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La Passe-Miroir #1
A Winter's Promise
Long ago, following a cataclysm called “The Rupture,” the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands. Known now as Arks, each has developed in distinct ways; each seems to possess its own unique relationship to time, such that nowadays vastly different worlds exist, together but apart. And over all of the Arks the spirit of an omnipotent ancestor abides.
Ophelia lives on Anima, an ark where objects have souls. Beneath her worn scarf and thick glasses, the young girl hides the ability to read and communicate with the souls of objects, and the power to travel through mirrors. Her peaceful existence on the Ark of Anima is disrupted when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, from the powerful Dragon clan. Ophelia must leave her family and follow her fiancée to the floating capital on the distant Ark of the Pole. Why has she been chosen? Why must she hide her true identity? Though she doesn’t know it yet, she has become a pawn in a deadly plot.
Ophelia lives on Anima, an ark where objects have souls. Beneath her worn scarf and thick glasses, the young girl hides the ability to read and communicate with the souls of objects, and the power to travel through mirrors. Her peaceful existence on the Ark of Anima is disrupted when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, from the powerful Dragon clan. Ophelia must leave her family and follow her fiancée to the floating capital on the distant Ark of the Pole. Why has she been chosen? Why must she hide her true identity? Though she doesn’t know it yet, she has become a pawn in a deadly plot.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2013
About the author
Christelle Dabos
13 books3,491 followersChristelle Dabos was born in 1980 on the French Riviera and grew up in a home filled with classical music and historical puzzles. More imaginative than cerebral, she begins to scribble her first texts on the benches of the faculty. Settled in Belgium, she intends to be a librarian when a disease occurs. Writing then becomes an escape from the medical machinery, then a slow reconstruction and finally second nature. Meanwhile, she enjoys the society of Plume d´Argent, a community of authors on the Internet. It was thanks to their encouragement that she decided to take on her very first literary challenge: to enter the First Youth Novel Contest. Great winner among the three finalists, Christelle Dabos has written 4 books in the "La Passe-Miroir" series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,400 reviews
February 15, 2021
EDIT : a quick foreword because I'm t i r e d, and look at me! I'm writing in bold font, what a monster *shivers*
1) I've never attacked the author. My review is solely focused on the book and the book only. Goodreads offers me the opportunity, as a reader, to give my honest opinion. I... took it. It's that simple.
2) The use of profanity is a stylistic choice. Sometimes I curse, others I don't and (surprise surprise) I'm actually able to interact in a different way. After finishing this novel though, I made the choice that appeared the most suitable to ME, to express MY opinion, and yes, it absolutely involved a savvy blend of English and French curse words. Like it, don't like it, at this point I really don't care.
3) As a French citizen, I find stereotypes about French people rather annoying so maybe let's not, I don't know, jump at the chance to prove them right? I mean, congrats! I have never gotten more insulting comments and threatening private messages than on this/because of this review. It's like you want people to think that French don't know how to deal with criticism, honestly?
4) You have a review space. USE IT. Oh, and no, "you read it wrong" does not in fact equal constructive criticism. It doesn't prove anything, except that for some reason you can't let it go. It's been two years. Give it a break maybe?
Now if you'd please stop acting like my review is "harming" a tremendously popular novel, it'd be great. Have a good day.
MY REVIEW
► Note : This review will be divided into two parts : the first one in English et la deuxième en français.
Let me start by saying that my two parts won't be sole translations : first because translating bores me to death, and secondly because given the fact that Les Fiancés de l'hiver is a French book, I just don't see the point in rambling in English about it.
Yet.
I still needed to express my opinion this way because I believe that this book demonstrated something that we find in a fair amount of YA novels : a complete contradiction between what we're told and what we really get.
What we're told is that the society pictured is matriarchal and somehow empowering for women.
What we get is a misogynist piece of shit. No, really. I am not exaggerating.
1) The heroine's opinion is constantly overlooked, even when she expresses clearly her disapproval, which is rare enough already. The members of her family repeatedly state how she must :
a) obey her fiancé whatever it takes ;
b) change in order to please him ;
c) never ever go against his orders.
2) Every woman apart from the heroine or her aunt is pictured like a manipulative bitch. Every. Fucking. One. Almost all the women we meet are vapid, superficial, and often straight on mean.
3) To add insult to injury, sex is portrayed as being fundamentally impure, especially, of course, when women are involved. All cheaters are women, and the whole thing stinks of double-standards. The men's actions are overlooked when the women are called bitches. I mean, for fuck sake.
4) There is this fucking piece of shit of character, Archibald. God, that guy. He manages to force the hand of the heroine when she wants to come back home (by using force to get her to follow him), crack a rape-joke and explain her that no woman can resist him in the span of 3 pages. Let me tell you that it took me less than two sentences to despise him.
5) The male-lead is an indifferent, grumpy asshole, and my only satisfaction comes from the fact that Ophélie, the MC, doesn't love him. GOOD. I could have done without her crazy interpretation of his actions, though, even if it made for a good laugh : this guy, who put her in harm way and did NOTHING to prevent her from being the naive and stupid girl she stays during the whole book, finally tells her that, I quote (well, I translate, lol), "he was starting to get used to her".
And then she thinks that he is falling in love with her.
What.
The.
Fuck.
I don't know about you, but I get used to annoyances. I do not "get used" to people I love. REALLY GIRL.
All the characters are caricatural and this is a shame because the world had potential, but the characters (and the fact that NOTHING HAPPENS) completely spoiled my read.
As ecstatic as I was to finally read a Fantasy YA novel written in French, and despite the NUMEROUS praises it got in France (I mean, it's published by GALLIMARD!), I cannot, for the life of me, recommend Les Fiancés de l'hiver and I would never put it in a teenager's hands.
They deserve better than poor characterization and sexist stereotypes. Just nope.
Cela faisait si longtemps que j'attendais de mettre les mains sur ce livre que je ne peux m'empêcher d'être profondément déçue par ce que je viens de lire. Alors c'est ça, le fameux livre de Fantasy qui a reçu tant d'éloges? Sérieusement? La littérature française mérite mieux.
Comme je l'ai expliqué dans ma première partie, j'ai été tout d'abord extrêmement choquée par les relents sexistes véhiculés par Les Fiancés de l'hiver. Moi qui m'attendais à une société matriarcale, je reste sans voix face à tous les stéréotypes genrés :
1) Peu importe la manière dont on nous le présente, la naïveté d'Ophélie, si agaçante en soi pour la bonne marche de l'histoire, se fait également l'alliée d'une représentation de la société complètement obsolète et, pour moi, dangereuse :
- Passe encore qu'elle doive subir un mariage forcé, je suis prête à accepter qu'il s'agisse d'une tradition dans le monde créé par Christelle Dabos. Rien par contre ne justifie le fait qu'Ophélie se montre si passive tout au long de l'histoire, ni que toutes les femmes qu'elle côtoie - mis à part sa tante - soient présentées comme des garces (je cite) ou des frivoles sans aucun intérêt. S'il y a quelque chose que je déteste, c'est quand on me force à apprécier une héroïne en essayant de me faire croire que sa "pureté" équivaut à ce qu'une femme se doit d'être. Non, juste NON.
Ce slut-shaming éhonté me donne envie de vomir.
- Parlons de la vision que ce livre véhicule du sexe, ok? Donc nous nous adressons à des adolescent(e)s, d'accord? Il me semble dangereux de renforcer cette vision si courante du sexe comme quelque chose de sale, mauvais, et foncièrement réservé aux femmes de "petite vertu". Franchement, en 2016, je suis abasourdie de trouver encore ce genre de conneries. Attention, je ne suis pas en train de dire que les livres pour adolescents devraient être remplis de scènes de sexe, non, mais il y a un juste milieu entre un roman érotique et cette manière presque religieuse de l'aborder. Une représentation saine du sexe ne l'associe pas un "pêché" presque biblique. Une représentation saine du sexe montre des partenaires consentants, et ne le diabolise pas ainsi. Parce que vraiment, à part des scènes d'adultères où la femme est systématiquement montrée du doigt (l'homme, lui, n'a rien à se reprocher, je suppose?), que présente t-on à Ophélie? Rien.
- Parlons-en, tiens, d'Ophélie. J'ai trouvé très dérangeant que cette adolescente de 17 ans (je suppose?) soit caractérisée d'une manière si enfantine. Je ne sais pas si cela vient de sa "personnalité" (encore fût-il qu'elle en ait une) ou du style d'écriture, mais je n'ai jamais eu l'impression de suivre les aventures d'une jeune fille. Son extrême naïveté, sa propension à subir ce qui lui arrive m'a profondément agacée, et ce même si elle se rebellait dans sa tête. Ce n'est pas suffisant. Alors d'accord, elle a légèrement évolué en fin d'histoire, mais franchement, pas assez pour que cela n'ait un impact vraiment positif.
2) Tous les personnages sont caricaturaux et n'ont aucune dimension. Alors vous avez la mère d'Ophélie, plus excessive qu'une héroïne de Vaudeville ; Thorn, le rustre sans saveur qui, tout héros qu'il est, doit pondre 15 phrases en 400 pages ; Archibald, le connard qui trouve ça amusant de blaguer sur le fait qu'il pourrait prendre sa virginité s'il le souhaitait (parce que quand même, lui sait séduire, vous savez) ; Berenilde, la manipulatrice amoureuse prête à tout pour garder l'élu de son cœur ; la famille de Thorn, les méchants, vraiment très méchants, très méchants.
Pfffff. J'en peux plus de ces gens. Donnez moi des nuances, faites moi croire en vos personnages. Ces marionnettes en papier mâché ont cessé de m'amuser bien trop vite.
3) Franchement, il ne se passe rien. C'est d'un ennuyeux! Passé les premières pages, engageantes et intrigantes, l'action stagne et s'il se passe des choses, l'histoire en soi n'avance pas vraiment, pas assez en tout cas au bout de 400 pages.
4) Le style d'écriture est maladroit, alternant une syntaxe simple avec un vocabulaire parfois désuet, le tout extrêmement juvénile. Et ne me parlez pas des dialogues, qui sonnent si faux que je n'ai jamais réussi à m'immerger complètement dans les interactions des personnages.
5) Quant au monde décrit, je dois reconnaitre que je l'ai trouvé fascinant, et c'est ce qui me rend si triste : Les Fiancés de l'hiver avait tant, tant de potentiel. Les animistes, le Pole, tout était là pour nous entrainer dans une histoire fantastique, et le résultat me fait l'effet d'un pétard mouillé.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
1) I've never attacked the author. My review is solely focused on the book and the book only. Goodreads offers me the opportunity, as a reader, to give my honest opinion. I... took it. It's that simple.
2) The use of profanity is a stylistic choice. Sometimes I curse, others I don't and (surprise surprise) I'm actually able to interact in a different way. After finishing this novel though, I made the choice that appeared the most suitable to ME, to express MY opinion, and yes, it absolutely involved a savvy blend of English and French curse words. Like it, don't like it, at this point I really don't care.
3) As a French citizen, I find stereotypes about French people rather annoying so maybe let's not, I don't know, jump at the chance to prove them right? I mean, congrats! I have never gotten more insulting comments and threatening private messages than on this/because of this review. It's like you want people to think that French don't know how to deal with criticism, honestly?
4) You have a review space. USE IT. Oh, and no, "you read it wrong" does not in fact equal constructive criticism. It doesn't prove anything, except that for some reason you can't let it go. It's been two years. Give it a break maybe?
Now if you'd please stop acting like my review is "harming" a tremendously popular novel, it'd be great. Have a good day.
MY REVIEW
► Note : This review will be divided into two parts : the first one in English et la deuxième en français.
Let me start by saying that my two parts won't be sole translations : first because translating bores me to death, and secondly because given the fact that Les Fiancés de l'hiver is a French book, I just don't see the point in rambling in English about it.
Yet.
I still needed to express my opinion this way because I believe that this book demonstrated something that we find in a fair amount of YA novels : a complete contradiction between what we're told and what we really get.
What we're told is that the society pictured is matriarchal and somehow empowering for women.
What we get is a misogynist piece of shit. No, really. I am not exaggerating.
1) The heroine's opinion is constantly overlooked, even when she expresses clearly her disapproval, which is rare enough already. The members of her family repeatedly state how she must :
a) obey her fiancé whatever it takes ;
b) change in order to please him ;
c) never ever go against his orders.
2) Every woman apart from the heroine or her aunt is pictured like a manipulative bitch. Every. Fucking. One. Almost all the women we meet are vapid, superficial, and often straight on mean.
3) To add insult to injury, sex is portrayed as being fundamentally impure, especially, of course, when women are involved. All cheaters are women, and the whole thing stinks of double-standards. The men's actions are overlooked when the women are called bitches. I mean, for fuck sake.
4) There is this fucking piece of shit of character, Archibald. God, that guy. He manages to force the hand of the heroine when she wants to come back home (by using force to get her to follow him), crack a rape-joke and explain her that no woman can resist him in the span of 3 pages. Let me tell you that it took me less than two sentences to despise him.
5) The male-lead is an indifferent, grumpy asshole, and my only satisfaction comes from the fact that Ophélie, the MC, doesn't love him. GOOD. I could have done without her crazy interpretation of his actions, though, even if it made for a good laugh : this guy, who put her in harm way and did NOTHING to prevent her from being the naive and stupid girl she stays during the whole book, finally tells her that, I quote (well, I translate, lol), "he was starting to get used to her".
And then she thinks that he is falling in love with her.
What.
The.
Fuck.
I don't know about you, but I get used to annoyances. I do not "get used" to people I love. REALLY GIRL.
All the characters are caricatural and this is a shame because the world had potential, but the characters (and the fact that NOTHING HAPPENS) completely spoiled my read.
As ecstatic as I was to finally read a Fantasy YA novel written in French, and despite the NUMEROUS praises it got in France (I mean, it's published by GALLIMARD!), I cannot, for the life of me, recommend Les Fiancés de l'hiver and I would never put it in a teenager's hands.
They deserve better than poor characterization and sexist stereotypes. Just nope.
Cela faisait si longtemps que j'attendais de mettre les mains sur ce livre que je ne peux m'empêcher d'être profondément déçue par ce que je viens de lire. Alors c'est ça, le fameux livre de Fantasy qui a reçu tant d'éloges? Sérieusement? La littérature française mérite mieux.
Comme je l'ai expliqué dans ma première partie, j'ai été tout d'abord extrêmement choquée par les relents sexistes véhiculés par Les Fiancés de l'hiver. Moi qui m'attendais à une société matriarcale, je reste sans voix face à tous les stéréotypes genrés :
1) Peu importe la manière dont on nous le présente, la naïveté d'Ophélie, si agaçante en soi pour la bonne marche de l'histoire, se fait également l'alliée d'une représentation de la société complètement obsolète et, pour moi, dangereuse :
- Passe encore qu'elle doive subir un mariage forcé, je suis prête à accepter qu'il s'agisse d'une tradition dans le monde créé par Christelle Dabos. Rien par contre ne justifie le fait qu'Ophélie se montre si passive tout au long de l'histoire, ni que toutes les femmes qu'elle côtoie - mis à part sa tante - soient présentées comme des garces (je cite) ou des frivoles sans aucun intérêt. S'il y a quelque chose que je déteste, c'est quand on me force à apprécier une héroïne en essayant de me faire croire que sa "pureté" équivaut à ce qu'une femme se doit d'être. Non, juste NON.
Ce slut-shaming éhonté me donne envie de vomir.
- Parlons de la vision que ce livre véhicule du sexe, ok? Donc nous nous adressons à des adolescent(e)s, d'accord? Il me semble dangereux de renforcer cette vision si courante du sexe comme quelque chose de sale, mauvais, et foncièrement réservé aux femmes de "petite vertu". Franchement, en 2016, je suis abasourdie de trouver encore ce genre de conneries. Attention, je ne suis pas en train de dire que les livres pour adolescents devraient être remplis de scènes de sexe, non, mais il y a un juste milieu entre un roman érotique et cette manière presque religieuse de l'aborder. Une représentation saine du sexe ne l'associe pas un "pêché" presque biblique. Une représentation saine du sexe montre des partenaires consentants, et ne le diabolise pas ainsi. Parce que vraiment, à part des scènes d'adultères où la femme est systématiquement montrée du doigt (l'homme, lui, n'a rien à se reprocher, je suppose?), que présente t-on à Ophélie? Rien.
- Parlons-en, tiens, d'Ophélie. J'ai trouvé très dérangeant que cette adolescente de 17 ans (je suppose?) soit caractérisée d'une manière si enfantine. Je ne sais pas si cela vient de sa "personnalité" (encore fût-il qu'elle en ait une) ou du style d'écriture, mais je n'ai jamais eu l'impression de suivre les aventures d'une jeune fille. Son extrême naïveté, sa propension à subir ce qui lui arrive m'a profondément agacée, et ce même si elle se rebellait dans sa tête. Ce n'est pas suffisant. Alors d'accord, elle a légèrement évolué en fin d'histoire, mais franchement, pas assez pour que cela n'ait un impact vraiment positif.
2) Tous les personnages sont caricaturaux et n'ont aucune dimension. Alors vous avez la mère d'Ophélie, plus excessive qu'une héroïne de Vaudeville ; Thorn, le rustre sans saveur qui, tout héros qu'il est, doit pondre 15 phrases en 400 pages ; Archibald, le connard qui trouve ça amusant de blaguer sur le fait qu'il pourrait prendre sa virginité s'il le souhaitait (parce que quand même, lui sait séduire, vous savez) ; Berenilde, la manipulatrice amoureuse prête à tout pour garder l'élu de son cœur ; la famille de Thorn, les méchants, vraiment très méchants, très méchants.
Pfffff. J'en peux plus de ces gens. Donnez moi des nuances, faites moi croire en vos personnages. Ces marionnettes en papier mâché ont cessé de m'amuser bien trop vite.
3) Franchement, il ne se passe rien. C'est d'un ennuyeux! Passé les premières pages, engageantes et intrigantes, l'action stagne et s'il se passe des choses, l'histoire en soi n'avance pas vraiment, pas assez en tout cas au bout de 400 pages.
4) Le style d'écriture est maladroit, alternant une syntaxe simple avec un vocabulaire parfois désuet, le tout extrêmement juvénile. Et ne me parlez pas des dialogues, qui sonnent si faux que je n'ai jamais réussi à m'immerger complètement dans les interactions des personnages.
5) Quant au monde décrit, je dois reconnaitre que je l'ai trouvé fascinant, et c'est ce qui me rend si triste : Les Fiancés de l'hiver avait tant, tant de potentiel. Les animistes, le Pole, tout était là pour nous entrainer dans une histoire fantastique, et le résultat me fait l'effet d'un pétard mouillé.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
March 3, 2019
(2.5?) That was... something.
I have very conflicted thoughts about this book. The world building was interesting and so was the magic system but I had lots of issues with the book. For a matriarchal society seems pretty backward.
Girl who's not like other ones because... she has glasses!! She is send to a different part of the world where she will have to marry someone she doesn't want to.
Interesting world and magic system but not explained enough. It could be due to us seeing it all through the eyes of a character who knows nothing so I hope to see more.
The writing was strange. Not just because it was in French.
Slow paced. Pretty Character driven and a lot in the head of the main character since she spends a lot of time not talking. Main character is so bland, it was hard to root for her. It’s nice to not have the same strong warrior for once but man is she bland.
Idk if it was meant for the reader to see themselves in her. Average with glasses. Oh so clumsy.
But I was having flashbacks from Twilight.
Things eventually picked up and became more interesting but the romance was... what?
“I got used to you” and she instantly thinks he’s madly in love with her. Girl sit down.
I think I’ll continue. Not sure when.
I have very conflicted thoughts about this book. The world building was interesting and so was the magic system but I had lots of issues with the book. For a matriarchal society seems pretty backward.
Girl who's not like other ones because... she has glasses!! She is send to a different part of the world where she will have to marry someone she doesn't want to.
Interesting world and magic system but not explained enough. It could be due to us seeing it all through the eyes of a character who knows nothing so I hope to see more.
The writing was strange. Not just because it was in French.
Slow paced. Pretty Character driven and a lot in the head of the main character since she spends a lot of time not talking. Main character is so bland, it was hard to root for her. It’s nice to not have the same strong warrior for once but man is she bland.
Idk if it was meant for the reader to see themselves in her. Average with glasses. Oh so clumsy.
But I was having flashbacks from Twilight.
Things eventually picked up and became more interesting but the romance was... what?
“I got used to you” and she instantly thinks he’s madly in love with her. Girl sit down.
I think I’ll continue. Not sure when.
October 29, 2024
Avrei preferito meno starnuti da parte della protagonista ma per il resto lavoro encomiabile. Ambientazione e trama sicuramente fanno la parte del leone rispetto ai personaggi che rimangono alquanto enigmatici. Ma forse anche questo fa parte del fascino di questo libro che richiama alla mente Alice nel paese delle meraviglie in una cornice fantasy e dalle tinte lievemente steampunk.
February 11, 2019
If you read a lot of Y.A. literature, this book will seem vaguely familiar to you. That’s because it just borrows a bunch of ideas from the most popular books out there. Harry Potter, Shadow and Bone (for a clueless girl thrown into a royal court), Vampire Diaries, too (Ambassador Archibald is a carbon copy of Adrian Ivashkov, or more accurately, a less charismatic version of him), and so many more I can’t be bothered to remember. The whole story is just a washed-out copy of those books.
Everyone is super flat and one-dimensional. The bad guys are very mean, the good guys are very kind. It’s obvious that Ophélie and Thorn are going to end up loving each other. But you know what? I couldn’t bring myself to care, because Thorn doesn’t feel real. He’s too “cold” to be genuine. Can you seriously imagine someone like him? Nobody felt real. They’re just caricatures. The dialogues were awkward, nobody talks like that either. And could anyone really picture what the Family Spirits looked like? These descriptions were terrible.
The writing was really clumsy. The first chapters were very good (probably because they were carefully edited and polished) but that’s about it. Sometimes I even couldn’t understand what Ophélie was feeling or trying to say. I just had to stop to read the sentences over and over again and they still didn’t make any sense. A couple of times I actually went back and re-read the previous page to try to understand where she was coming from ! She would jump to conclusions that had strictly no correlation to what she was saying beforehand, or her feelings (especially when Thorn was concerned) were just hard to follow because she would change her mind every other page.
Also, sooo many repetitions. Here’s how it is: the author gives a defining trait to each character. And she doesn’t want you to forget those assigned traits so she kindly reminds you every.single.time.they.talk. Berenilde is gorgeous and has tattoos. Ophélie has “heavy dark curls” (how many times does she say those exact words??) The aunt has "horse-like teeth". All of these are repeated a hundred times throughout the book, the most important one being….. Thorn is tall, y’all. I am not kidding, every single time Ophélie looked at him, she HAD to say something about how much of a giant he is, how tall his legs are, how gigantic he is, how small she is compared to how tall he is, because he is a giant, and when she borrows his coat it's so huge because he's so tall and she's so small, and how she gets dizzy just looking at him because she’s so short and he’s so freakishly tall, because, you know, he’s a giant and he’s skinny but did you know that he is also very tall?.... I GET IT! It got exasperating.
It’s the same for Ophélie though. The author learned her lesson from reading so many YA books: readers don’t like perfect, Mary Sue characters. Fine. But honestly Ophélie is so flawed that it’s laughable. She has zero redeeming qualities. None. She’s clumsly to the point of foolishness, she's not pretty, she’s socially awkward, she isn't funny, sassy or sarcastic, she’s not interesting in the least, she’s not smart, she’s not a fast-learner, she’s always sneezing, falling, or being passive and clueless as to what is going on around her. She doesn’t care about her hair and has poor personal hygiene (she doesn’t bathe for a week and that’s fine by her), she doesn’t care about being feminine and/or trying to improve her appearance because that’s for slutty girls like her sister (rolls eyes), she doesn’t care about her clothes (she wears mismatched shoes and grandmother’s clothes etc.), she doesn’t care about guys, and she’s sick throughout the entire book. Meaning she has a cold during the entire storyline. Is that supposed to make her relatable? I have never, ever read a book where so many of the heroine’s interactions with other characters are punctuated by regulars “Ophélie stopped talking to sneeze. She blew her nose three times.” She's a complete tool. Even Bella Swan was more lively. That’s saying something. Come on, get a grip girl! I felt nothing towards her but annoyance. Yet, everyone is just obsessed with her and she seems to be the key to saving everyone. ROLLS EYES.
Also, she’s so annoying because she consistently made poor decisions and refused what her allies advised her to do. When Berenilde tortures her and Thorn asks her about it, she chooses not to tell him, for reasons that are eerily similar to Harry Potter’s when he was being tortured by Dolores Umbridge. Although in Ophélie’s case, it's just stupid and doesn’t make any sense. He could help you, you idiot!
And the mission! So they're a group planning to infiltrate the royal court by disguising their true identities, which will obviously require fake names and very careful planning. The stakes are high, they're risking their lives if they're discovered. Days before they effectively penetrate the court, Ophélie disobeys direct orders of staying put because she's an idiot, and her stupid wandering around leads her to getting lost, obviously, because she's a tool. She ends up running into a prince from the actual court THEY ARE TRYING TO INFILTRATE and she's thick enough to babble away valuable information. THEN, when she gets back, she never mentions to her teammates that she’s met Archibald, NOT ONCE, even though he is bound to recognize her for who she really is when they do infiltrate! Her silence literally jeopardized everyone and the entire mission altogether! Does she have a good reason for doing that and acting like a complete cretin? No. But does she at least feel guilty and realize that her complete foolishness put everyone in deadly danger? Also no.
And when Berenilde specifically tells her “Listen, this is important, Gustave is going to approach you with an offer, tell me at once when he does” what does she do when Gustave indeed approaches her? NOTHING. Does she warn Berenilde? OF COURSE NOT. I swear she’s dumber than a goat.
And I know her marriage was arranged but since she had no other option than to just, well, roll with it, I got annoyed at how she refused to try and work with Thorn. You’re bound to the guy. You have no choice so why not try to make the best of it? He’s not THAT bad. He watches out for you. Stop being so immature and try to make this situation that you’ve been given a better one.
Ugh. The overall reading experience felt very childish. The world building was okay, but I liked Anima better than the Pole. Honestly my two-stars are for the scarf, because that was freaking cute. Forget about the rest. The whole book is just so goddamn dull.
Everyone is super flat and one-dimensional. The bad guys are very mean, the good guys are very kind. It’s obvious that Ophélie and Thorn are going to end up loving each other. But you know what? I couldn’t bring myself to care, because Thorn doesn’t feel real. He’s too “cold” to be genuine. Can you seriously imagine someone like him? Nobody felt real. They’re just caricatures. The dialogues were awkward, nobody talks like that either. And could anyone really picture what the Family Spirits looked like? These descriptions were terrible.
The writing was really clumsy. The first chapters were very good (probably because they were carefully edited and polished) but that’s about it. Sometimes I even couldn’t understand what Ophélie was feeling or trying to say. I just had to stop to read the sentences over and over again and they still didn’t make any sense. A couple of times I actually went back and re-read the previous page to try to understand where she was coming from ! She would jump to conclusions that had strictly no correlation to what she was saying beforehand, or her feelings (especially when Thorn was concerned) were just hard to follow because she would change her mind every other page.
Also, sooo many repetitions. Here’s how it is: the author gives a defining trait to each character. And she doesn’t want you to forget those assigned traits so she kindly reminds you every.single.time.they.talk. Berenilde is gorgeous and has tattoos. Ophélie has “heavy dark curls” (how many times does she say those exact words??) The aunt has "horse-like teeth". All of these are repeated a hundred times throughout the book, the most important one being….. Thorn is tall, y’all. I am not kidding, every single time Ophélie looked at him, she HAD to say something about how much of a giant he is, how tall his legs are, how gigantic he is, how small she is compared to how tall he is, because he is a giant, and when she borrows his coat it's so huge because he's so tall and she's so small, and how she gets dizzy just looking at him because she’s so short and he’s so freakishly tall, because, you know, he’s a giant and he’s skinny but did you know that he is also very tall?.... I GET IT! It got exasperating.
It’s the same for Ophélie though. The author learned her lesson from reading so many YA books: readers don’t like perfect, Mary Sue characters. Fine. But honestly Ophélie is so flawed that it’s laughable. She has zero redeeming qualities. None. She’s clumsly to the point of foolishness, she's not pretty, she’s socially awkward, she isn't funny, sassy or sarcastic, she’s not interesting in the least, she’s not smart, she’s not a fast-learner, she’s always sneezing, falling, or being passive and clueless as to what is going on around her. She doesn’t care about her hair and has poor personal hygiene (she doesn’t bathe for a week and that’s fine by her), she doesn’t care about being feminine and/or trying to improve her appearance because that’s for slutty girls like her sister (rolls eyes), she doesn’t care about her clothes (she wears mismatched shoes and grandmother’s clothes etc.), she doesn’t care about guys, and she’s sick throughout the entire book. Meaning she has a cold during the entire storyline. Is that supposed to make her relatable? I have never, ever read a book where so many of the heroine’s interactions with other characters are punctuated by regulars “Ophélie stopped talking to sneeze. She blew her nose three times.” She's a complete tool. Even Bella Swan was more lively. That’s saying something. Come on, get a grip girl! I felt nothing towards her but annoyance. Yet, everyone is just obsessed with her and she seems to be the key to saving everyone. ROLLS EYES.
Also, she’s so annoying because she consistently made poor decisions and refused what her allies advised her to do. When Berenilde tortures her and Thorn asks her about it, she chooses not to tell him, for reasons that are eerily similar to Harry Potter’s when he was being tortured by Dolores Umbridge. Although in Ophélie’s case, it's just stupid and doesn’t make any sense. He could help you, you idiot!
And the mission! So they're a group planning to infiltrate the royal court by disguising their true identities, which will obviously require fake names and very careful planning. The stakes are high, they're risking their lives if they're discovered. Days before they effectively penetrate the court, Ophélie disobeys direct orders of staying put because she's an idiot, and her stupid wandering around leads her to getting lost, obviously, because she's a tool. She ends up running into a prince from the actual court THEY ARE TRYING TO INFILTRATE and she's thick enough to babble away valuable information. THEN, when she gets back, she never mentions to her teammates that she’s met Archibald, NOT ONCE, even though he is bound to recognize her for who she really is when they do infiltrate! Her silence literally jeopardized everyone and the entire mission altogether! Does she have a good reason for doing that and acting like a complete cretin? No. But does she at least feel guilty and realize that her complete foolishness put everyone in deadly danger? Also no.
And when Berenilde specifically tells her “Listen, this is important, Gustave is going to approach you with an offer, tell me at once when he does” what does she do when Gustave indeed approaches her? NOTHING. Does she warn Berenilde? OF COURSE NOT. I swear she’s dumber than a goat.
And I know her marriage was arranged but since she had no other option than to just, well, roll with it, I got annoyed at how she refused to try and work with Thorn. You’re bound to the guy. You have no choice so why not try to make the best of it? He’s not THAT bad. He watches out for you. Stop being so immature and try to make this situation that you’ve been given a better one.
Ugh. The overall reading experience felt very childish. The world building was okay, but I liked Anima better than the Pole. Honestly my two-stars are for the scarf, because that was freaking cute. Forget about the rest. The whole book is just so goddamn dull.
Want to read
June 12, 2023sure, i don't really read YA fantasy anymore, but i DO read french books with pretty covers
August 6, 2019
A novel that takes place in a world so similar, yet different, to our own. God has gotten angry and smashed the world into little pieces. It sees Ophelia travel to a distant ark, as these fragments of the world are now called, for an arranged marriage to Thorn, the Pole ark's treasurer.
Ophelia has certain gifts, just by touching an object she can read the feelings and mindset of people who have previously touched that object, and she also has the ability to travel through mirrors. Yet others have more powerful abilities and she fails to see why someone as insignificant as herself has been requested as Thorn's wife. She finds that people on the Pole ark aren't always as they seem, some she trusted will try to betray her, but she also finds some unexpected allies. What follows is a tale of political intrigue, manipulation and secrets as Ophelia finds that the truth is scarier than she first thought, and those around her find her stronger than she looks.
I really enjoyed this book, whipping through it in a couple of sessions. Christelle Dabos weaves an amazing tale, through rich settings and characters This is the first book in The Mirror Visitor series, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for the rest of the series as they become available. A first rate fantasy book.
My thanks to Text Publishing for a copy to read and review. The opinions are all my own.
Ophelia has certain gifts, just by touching an object she can read the feelings and mindset of people who have previously touched that object, and she also has the ability to travel through mirrors. Yet others have more powerful abilities and she fails to see why someone as insignificant as herself has been requested as Thorn's wife. She finds that people on the Pole ark aren't always as they seem, some she trusted will try to betray her, but she also finds some unexpected allies. What follows is a tale of political intrigue, manipulation and secrets as Ophelia finds that the truth is scarier than she first thought, and those around her find her stronger than she looks.
I really enjoyed this book, whipping through it in a couple of sessions. Christelle Dabos weaves an amazing tale, through rich settings and characters This is the first book in The Mirror Visitor series, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for the rest of the series as they become available. A first rate fantasy book.
My thanks to Text Publishing for a copy to read and review. The opinions are all my own.
April 22, 2018
Potenzialmente il libro della vita ma dobbiamo fare i conti con qualche caduta di stile che rovina una lettura così piacevole.
Soffre tanto della presenza di cliché, una caratterizzazione dei personaggi molto povera, un tentativo di shipping forse tra i peggiori del genere e un finale abbastanza terribile.
Detto questo, per me Fidanzati dell'Inverno è indubbiamente un titolo molto interessante, l'ambientazione tra le più brillanti e vivide di sempre, un gioco di illusioni continue sorretto da una trama che ti rapisce completamente perchè costantemente in movimento, molto dinamica ed estremamente affascinante, piena di colpi di scena e intrighi. Mi ha ricordato a tratti Alice nel Paese delle Meraviglie (in fondo assistiamo ad una protagonista che viene catapultata nella tana del Bianconiglio) e alcuni tratti invece più classici della letteratura Young adult fantasy (HP, Shadow & Bone, Twilight..)
Ogni cosa viene svelata pagina dopo pagina ma alla fine ci ritroviamo con ancora più dubbi di prima, nonostante la nostra illusione di avere imparato o carpito qualcosa. La scrittura sostiene benissimo e in maniera elegante tutto l'arco narrativo.
Affascinante vedere come sia stato elaborato un sistema magico molto particolare, dove in ogni Arca (ovvero in ogni regno/regione) ognuno possiede un potere specifico, diverso da ogni altro.
La trama è così ritmata e a catena che è bello svelare piano piano un nuovo mondo, fatto di intrighi e dove nessuno è ciò che sembra. Mi è risultato impossibile posare il libro, soprattutto nell'ultima metà, mentre nella prima ho letto molto più a rilento.
La società dipinta è crudele, meschina e ognuno cerca di prevalere sull'altro in un sistema di menzogne e inaffidabilità generale. Ognuno può contare solo su di se e lo capiamo ogni volta... tranne a quanto pare Ophelia.
Ophelia è una protagonista goffa, impacciata che però (magicamente) nella sua terra natale gestisce un museo (!!) ma appena fuori da lì, spacca ogni cosa e inciampa continuamente. Non ho sempre compreso le sue motivazioni né condiviso sempre i suoi atteggiamenti che in alcuni casi mi sono sembrati molto contraddittori ma ho apprezzato il tentativo di affermazione e la sua incapacità di trattenere i pensieri, il suo aggrapparsi disperatamente e tenacemente alla vita e alla volontà di venire fuori da una situazione così assurda. Ho, diciamo, apprezzato molto meno i suoi viaggi mentali e i numerosi vaneggiamenti. Risulterò molto dura con lei ma è anche l'unico personaggio vagamente approfondito. Per il resto, scordatevi una qualsiasi caratterizzazione. Chiunque è mono dimensionale, viene indagato solo per un aspetto senza avere alcuna altra connotazione, è difficile comprenderli perchè non li possiamo conoscere davvero ma al massimo apprezzare uno o l'altro perchè ci piace magari quell'aspetto.
Sono felice che apparentemente la relazione tra Ophelia e il suo fidanzato non si basi su falsi sentimenti di amore (anche se lei più volte si sente in colpa per questo se non addirittura che vaneggia su un papabile innamoramento da parte di lui... follia!) ma, anzi, dichiara apertamente la sua mancanza di sentimenti. Anche solo il cliché di uomo fisicamente imponente, freddo e rude nei modi VS ragazza impacciata, goffa e minuta...
Fatico a comprendere come sia possibile tra l'altro, considerare vagamente interessante o romanticizzare la mancanza di tatto, educazione e i modi sessisti di Thorn.
E su queste cose mi voglio proprio soffermare.
Sulla rappresentazione femminile all'interno del libro potrei cominciare una guerra, sinceramente mi ha delusa tantissimo questo aspetto. I doppi standard si ripresentano continuamente.
Uno dei motivi principali per i quali la protagonista non progredisce all'interno del libro è dovuto al suo rapporto con il fidanzato. Questo infatti sminuisce le sue opinioni continuamente e non la considera... ci viene presentato come un tratto caratteriale e potrei anche comprendere se fosse qualcosa di meno impattante ma il motivo per cui la protagonista non riesce a districarsi a corte è principalmente colpa sua. Soprattutto perchè non considera le opinioni di Ophelia, non l'ascolta mai veramente e non le dà gli strumenti per vincere la sua battaglia per la sopravvivenza.
Il sesso è sempre qualcosa di negativo, su cui ti giochi la reputazione ed è ovviamente considerato impuro se a compierlo è una donna. Chi tradisce è SEMPRE una donna e viene dipinta come una povera stupida senza cervello che cede alle lusinghe mentre l'uomo che la seduce passa in secondo piano. Le donne in una qualche posizione di potere sono descritte come manipolatrici e meschine, arroganti o spietate, facili alle cattiverie gratuite. quando Ophelia invece descrive le sorelle che utilizzano il fascino o sono sposate come delle sempliciotte sciocche senza arte né parte.
Io sinceramente, sono stanca di leggere ancora e ancora questo tipo di rappresentazione.
Detto questo, io mi soffermo sempre tanto sulle pecche e poco sui pregi eppure Fidanzati dell'Inverno per me è stata una lettura molto immersa che mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine, ho adorato la ricchezza delle atmosfere e delle ambientazioni, la scrittura e l'originalità del primo volume. Diciamo che alcuni scivoloni sarebbero stati forse del tutto evitabili e che dai prossimi (che leggerò sicuramente) mi aspetto molto di più perchè questa serie ha davvero molto potenziale e ve la consiglio assolutamente!
Soffre tanto della presenza di cliché, una caratterizzazione dei personaggi molto povera, un tentativo di shipping forse tra i peggiori del genere e un finale abbastanza terribile.
Detto questo, per me Fidanzati dell'Inverno è indubbiamente un titolo molto interessante, l'ambientazione tra le più brillanti e vivide di sempre, un gioco di illusioni continue sorretto da una trama che ti rapisce completamente perchè costantemente in movimento, molto dinamica ed estremamente affascinante, piena di colpi di scena e intrighi. Mi ha ricordato a tratti Alice nel Paese delle Meraviglie (in fondo assistiamo ad una protagonista che viene catapultata nella tana del Bianconiglio) e alcuni tratti invece più classici della letteratura Young adult fantasy (HP, Shadow & Bone, Twilight..)
Ogni cosa viene svelata pagina dopo pagina ma alla fine ci ritroviamo con ancora più dubbi di prima, nonostante la nostra illusione di avere imparato o carpito qualcosa. La scrittura sostiene benissimo e in maniera elegante tutto l'arco narrativo.
Affascinante vedere come sia stato elaborato un sistema magico molto particolare, dove in ogni Arca (ovvero in ogni regno/regione) ognuno possiede un potere specifico, diverso da ogni altro.
La trama è così ritmata e a catena che è bello svelare piano piano un nuovo mondo, fatto di intrighi e dove nessuno è ciò che sembra. Mi è risultato impossibile posare il libro, soprattutto nell'ultima metà, mentre nella prima ho letto molto più a rilento.
La società dipinta è crudele, meschina e ognuno cerca di prevalere sull'altro in un sistema di menzogne e inaffidabilità generale. Ognuno può contare solo su di se e lo capiamo ogni volta... tranne a quanto pare Ophelia.
Ophelia è una protagonista goffa, impacciata che però (magicamente) nella sua terra natale gestisce un museo (!!) ma appena fuori da lì, spacca ogni cosa e inciampa continuamente. Non ho sempre compreso le sue motivazioni né condiviso sempre i suoi atteggiamenti che in alcuni casi mi sono sembrati molto contraddittori ma ho apprezzato il tentativo di affermazione e la sua incapacità di trattenere i pensieri, il suo aggrapparsi disperatamente e tenacemente alla vita e alla volontà di venire fuori da una situazione così assurda. Ho, diciamo, apprezzato molto meno i suoi viaggi mentali e i numerosi vaneggiamenti. Risulterò molto dura con lei ma è anche l'unico personaggio vagamente approfondito. Per il resto, scordatevi una qualsiasi caratterizzazione. Chiunque è mono dimensionale, viene indagato solo per un aspetto senza avere alcuna altra connotazione, è difficile comprenderli perchè non li possiamo conoscere davvero ma al massimo apprezzare uno o l'altro perchè ci piace magari quell'aspetto.
Sono felice che apparentemente la relazione tra Ophelia e il suo fidanzato non si basi su falsi sentimenti di amore (anche se lei più volte si sente in colpa per questo se non addirittura che vaneggia su un papabile innamoramento da parte di lui... follia!) ma, anzi, dichiara apertamente la sua mancanza di sentimenti. Anche solo il cliché di uomo fisicamente imponente, freddo e rude nei modi VS ragazza impacciata, goffa e minuta...
Fatico a comprendere come sia possibile tra l'altro, considerare vagamente interessante o romanticizzare la mancanza di tatto, educazione e i modi sessisti di Thorn.
E su queste cose mi voglio proprio soffermare.
Sulla rappresentazione femminile all'interno del libro potrei cominciare una guerra, sinceramente mi ha delusa tantissimo questo aspetto. I doppi standard si ripresentano continuamente.
Uno dei motivi principali per i quali la protagonista non progredisce all'interno del libro è dovuto al suo rapporto con il fidanzato. Questo infatti sminuisce le sue opinioni continuamente e non la considera... ci viene presentato come un tratto caratteriale e potrei anche comprendere se fosse qualcosa di meno impattante ma il motivo per cui la protagonista non riesce a districarsi a corte è principalmente colpa sua. Soprattutto perchè non considera le opinioni di Ophelia, non l'ascolta mai veramente e non le dà gli strumenti per vincere la sua battaglia per la sopravvivenza.
Il sesso è sempre qualcosa di negativo, su cui ti giochi la reputazione ed è ovviamente considerato impuro se a compierlo è una donna. Chi tradisce è SEMPRE una donna e viene dipinta come una povera stupida senza cervello che cede alle lusinghe mentre l'uomo che la seduce passa in secondo piano. Le donne in una qualche posizione di potere sono descritte come manipolatrici e meschine, arroganti o spietate, facili alle cattiverie gratuite. quando Ophelia invece descrive le sorelle che utilizzano il fascino o sono sposate come delle sempliciotte sciocche senza arte né parte.
Io sinceramente, sono stanca di leggere ancora e ancora questo tipo di rappresentazione.
Detto questo, io mi soffermo sempre tanto sulle pecche e poco sui pregi eppure Fidanzati dell'Inverno per me è stata una lettura molto immersa che mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine, ho adorato la ricchezza delle atmosfere e delle ambientazioni, la scrittura e l'originalità del primo volume. Diciamo che alcuni scivoloni sarebbero stati forse del tutto evitabili e che dai prossimi (che leggerò sicuramente) mi aspetto molto di più perchè questa serie ha davvero molto potenziale e ve la consiglio assolutamente!
April 24, 2019
Holy hell this book has some of the most unique worldbuilding I’ve seen for absolutely ages - it’s like Howl’s Moving Castle x Pride & Prejudice x Versailles under the guise of a somewhat-historical-feeling steampunk fantasy - and it’s fascinating.
Full review to come!!
*
- Buddy read with lovely Jasmin! -
Full review to come!!
*
- Buddy read with lovely Jasmin! -
December 16, 2018
I really enjoyed the book. The world was so imaginative and creative. I truly loved the setting. It was also simple enough that made it even easier to grasp and enjoy. Probably Ophelia was the best part of this book for me. It was a powerful character development, and a very likeable heroine. She was very pragmatic in the way she approached the events. There was lots of court politics and relationship management. Dabos managed to create a strong intrigue. I kept turning the pages to learn why on earth Ophelia was in Pole, what was happening in Pole, who are all these people, what will happen in the end? I found the writing very simple and enjoyable. The World building was very clever. In some fantasy books, it becomes so complicated that you give up. Or, it’s just not creative enough, a prince, a princess, and an expected romance. However, I found A Winter’s Promise very original.
The only criticism I have for the book is the dragging in the middle when Ophelia arrives to Pole, and tries to get to know people. The relationships, the court dynamics took too long to settle in my opinion. It’s a classic pit hole in fantasy books, and unfortunately Dabos couldn’t escape this as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. If you’re looking for an original and creative world set up, this is a very good option. Heroine is definitely resourceful and very likeable. Writing is fluid and imaginative.
The only criticism I have for the book is the dragging in the middle when Ophelia arrives to Pole, and tries to get to know people. The relationships, the court dynamics took too long to settle in my opinion. It’s a classic pit hole in fantasy books, and unfortunately Dabos couldn’t escape this as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. If you’re looking for an original and creative world set up, this is a very good option. Heroine is definitely resourceful and very likeable. Writing is fluid and imaginative.
October 1, 2018
DNF'd on page 185/491.
Thank you so much to Text Publishing Australia for sending a copy of this to me! Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. The first chapter was so promising, with so much atmosphere and it had it's own distinct, magical vibe that made me think I was going to love this book! However, as I kept reading, I kept encountering more and more problems. For example, on page 49, "A nanny pushed a pram while blushing at the admiring whistles of workmen up scaffolding." Ughhhhh why are we insinuating that this is a normal thing, that women should blush when disgusting men do this. ALSO I thought this was a children's book, so I was super upset that lines like this were used without being challenged, but as I read more and more of the book, I realised this is certainly NOT a children's book.
We have another character calling a woman a slut just because she was sleeping with her brother and we have another character who ... ugh... let me just show you..
Archibald finally let out a deep sigh. "I'll admit to you that I'm a little disappointed. It would have been frightfully amusing to have Thorn's betrothed at my disposal."
"And why's that?" she asked, frowning.
"Well, to deflower her, of course."
LIKE..... SERIOUSLY?
I'm just done with this book. The storyline itself isn't even interesting enough for me to continue with it and the main characters are EXTREMELY bland.
SUPER BUMMED.
Thank you so much to Text Publishing Australia for sending a copy of this to me! Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. The first chapter was so promising, with so much atmosphere and it had it's own distinct, magical vibe that made me think I was going to love this book! However, as I kept reading, I kept encountering more and more problems. For example, on page 49, "A nanny pushed a pram while blushing at the admiring whistles of workmen up scaffolding." Ughhhhh why are we insinuating that this is a normal thing, that women should blush when disgusting men do this. ALSO I thought this was a children's book, so I was super upset that lines like this were used without being challenged, but as I read more and more of the book, I realised this is certainly NOT a children's book.
We have another character calling a woman a slut just because she was sleeping with her brother and we have another character who ... ugh... let me just show you..
Archibald finally let out a deep sigh. "I'll admit to you that I'm a little disappointed. It would have been frightfully amusing to have Thorn's betrothed at my disposal."
"And why's that?" she asked, frowning.
"Well, to deflower her, of course."
LIKE..... SERIOUSLY?
I'm just done with this book. The storyline itself isn't even interesting enough for me to continue with it and the main characters are EXTREMELY bland.
SUPER BUMMED.
January 10, 2019
Really interesting world filed with torturous court intrigue, and a real teaser of an ending. The arks are cool, and there are very evocative lines about more interesting things to see that we don't get to in this book. Some descriptions will stick with me, especially about the use of illusions and what's really underneath them.
I called the ending a tease, but to me it was really more of a dud. I wanted more to happen at the end than just strange alliances. Okay I actually wanted more to happen overall. But I thought the second half of the book built some nice momentum that certainly sets up the next book to be interesting and different!
I called the ending a tease, but to me it was really more of a dud. I wanted more to happen at the end than just strange alliances. Okay I actually wanted more to happen overall. But I thought the second half of the book built some nice momentum that certainly sets up the next book to be interesting and different!
March 25, 2021
È l'inizio di una saga spettacolare. Libro che nella prima metà risultava quasi "noioso", con tempi di narrazione un po' lenti; dalla seconda metà comincia a ingranare fino a non riuscire più a smettere di leggere. Nel complesso è quello che ho preferito meno tra i 4, il che la dice lunga. QUINDI: Fantasy che mescola intrecci politici, inganni e colpi di scena, il tutto incorniciato da un contesto assolutamente geniale e originale. Non è un romanzo rosa, quindi non aspettatevi di avere grandi letture romantiche o dialoghi appassionati tra i due protagonisti.
December 14, 2018
Man that went downhill quickly.
It started out a 4 star, but ended up being up horrible.
I'll admit, the first fifty or so pages were amazing, and I wished it had stayed on that track, because the second they got to Citaceleste, things were BAD.
At first I really liked ophelia. I thought she was the right mix of smart and quirky and stubborn to make her akin to the protagonists of the middle grade books I used to read voraciously. The first fifty or so pages were similar to the Mysterious Benedict Society for me, only with an older feel, but it turned out to be completely different than the first fifty pages and GOD AM I UPSET.
There seemed to be no point to this book. The plot was unclear and odd, taking twists and turned whenever the author pleased. Once I thought it was about this thing, something else would take the stage.
All of the characters in Citaceleste were pretentious and dull. Enough said.
I expected an enchanting novel about people with the ability to read objects, their histories, and so on. I wanted to learn about mirror travel. Instead I got a hot royal mess featuring fatphobia, borderline incest, and magic that, even for magic, makes no hecking sense.
I knew once Archibald showed up and joked about taking advantage of Ophelia things weren't going to be good. I should've called it quits right then.
Dont be fooled by the pretty cover and intriguing premise. This is not a good read.
*drops mic*
Peace out.
It started out a 4 star, but ended up being up horrible.
I'll admit, the first fifty or so pages were amazing, and I wished it had stayed on that track, because the second they got to Citaceleste, things were BAD.
At first I really liked ophelia. I thought she was the right mix of smart and quirky and stubborn to make her akin to the protagonists of the middle grade books I used to read voraciously. The first fifty or so pages were similar to the Mysterious Benedict Society for me, only with an older feel, but it turned out to be completely different than the first fifty pages and GOD AM I UPSET.
There seemed to be no point to this book. The plot was unclear and odd, taking twists and turned whenever the author pleased. Once I thought it was about this thing, something else would take the stage.
All of the characters in Citaceleste were pretentious and dull. Enough said.
I expected an enchanting novel about people with the ability to read objects, their histories, and so on. I wanted to learn about mirror travel. Instead I got a hot royal mess featuring fatphobia, borderline incest, and magic that, even for magic, makes no hecking sense.
I knew once Archibald showed up and joked about taking advantage of Ophelia things weren't going to be good. I should've called it quits right then.
Dont be fooled by the pretty cover and intriguing premise. This is not a good read.
*drops mic*
Peace out.
February 7, 2017
Premier coup de coeur de l'année ! C'était loufoque, bourré d'imagination, et magique. Il y a certes des longueurs (plutôt au milieu pour moi; j'ai adoré le début qu'on m'avait décrit comme très lent), mais l'univers et les personnages en valent largement la peine. Je pense que je lirai le deuxième tome en ebook car il sera dur d'attendre la sortie poche ! C'était vraiment bien <3
February 16, 2021
Vi è mai capitato di conoscere una persona che tutti i vostri amici reputano divertentissima, simpaticissima, intelligentissima, ma di cui voi non riuscite proprio a capire il fascino? Quel genere di ragazzo di cui tutta la scuola è innamorata, ma che a voi pare banalotto e anche un po’ superficiale? Ecco, questo è ciò che ho provato io leggendo questo libro.
Fidanzati dell’inverno ha riscosso un grande successo in Italia e all’estero, è stato acclamato anche dai recensori più severi e la sua pubblicazione ha ricevuto un’accoglienza a dir poco entusiasta. A lettura ultimata, mi chiedo — non senza un pizzico di cinismo — se tutto questo calore non sia in parte dovuto all’ottima campagna di marketing realizzata da E/O in occasione del lancio della serie. Questo perché, onestamente, fatico a capire come un romanzo così pieno di cliché e palesi punti deboli abbia potuto essere paragonato a Harry Potter e a Queste Oscure Materie, due capolavori della letteratura per ragazzi che ben poco hanno a che vedere con quest’opera in termini di profondità e complessità.
Di seguito cercherò di riassumere quelli che sono stati, per me, pregi e difetti di questo libro.
PRO
La scrittura
La prosa di Christelle Dabos è vivace, scorrevole, cinematografica. In termini di stile e ricchezza lessicale, questo romanzo è senza dubbio superiore alla media degli young adult contemporanei. Ho apprezzato particolarmente le capacità descrittive dell’autrice, che rendono gli ambienti del romanzo molto vividi e colorati.
L’atmosfera
Premesso che ho un debole per le ambientazioni steampunk, ho trovato le atmosfere di questa storia estremamente immersive e affascinanti. La struttura del mondo, il sistema magico e soprattutto l’idea alla base di Città Celeste sono davvero originali e brillanti. Purtroppo la città è sottoutilizzata all’interno della storia, che si svolge quasi esclusivamente in ambienti chiusi e isolati (scelta quanto meno discutibile, considerato che l’autrice compie uno sforzo evidente per creare un universo ampio che avrebbe potuto essere sfruttato meglio).
Il ritmo
Fidanzati dell’Inverno è un libro che si fa divorare, riuscendo a tenere vivo l’interesse del lettore anche nelle parti più lente e descrittive. So che su questo punto ci sono opinioni contrastanti, ma io l’ho trovato scorrevole e di facile lettura.
CONTRO
La protagonista
Buon Dio, la protagonista. Ofelia è il personaggio più insulso, incompetente, insignificante che si possa immaginare. Ormai sono abituata ad imbattermi in ragazze goffe e impacciate all’interno della letteratura young adult, ma nel caso di Ofelia queste caratteristiche costituiscono l’unico tratto saliente della sua personalità. Per il resto, la nostra eroina non ha nessuna qualità, ambizione o capacità, se non quella legata al potere di cui è dotata fin dalla nascita. È scialba e insignificante, non si prende cura di se stessa (si veste male, non si pettina, ad un certo punto dice di non lavarsi da una settimana e la cosa non pare crearle disagio), è incapace di instaurare rapporti interpersonali (è cronicamente timida, non sa articolare le parole, nessuno la capisce perché mugugna mentre parla), non riesce a portare a termine nemmeno le attività più semplici perché inciampa quando cammina, rompe qualunque cosa tocchi, si strozza mentre mangia e cade tentando di sedersi. Il suo livello di passività all’interno della storia è esasperante: viene costantemente guidata, indirizzata, manipolata dagli altri personaggi, senza mai reagire o ribellarsi. Il suo unico scatto di orgoglio avviene nelle ultime cinquanta pagine, tramite una reazione rabbiosa fine a se stessa che non ha alcuna reale conseguenza all’interno della vicenda.
Il world building
Se è vero che l’atmosfera di questo libro è immersiva e affascinante, è anche vero che la costruzione del mondo lascia molto a desiderare in termini di logica e coerenza interna. Non ho capito perché, se ci troviamo in un futuro post-apocalittico, le persone pensano e si comportano come borghesi dell’Ottocento. Il mondo delle Arche dovrebbe essere il risultato della futura esplosione della Terra e della nascita di una nuova società frammentata: perché allora il linguaggio, l’arredamento, il modo di vestire dei personaggi rispecchiano quelli di due secoli fa? Se gli esseri umani non credono più in Dio e le religioni non esistono, perché i personaggi sono legati a valori tipici della morale cristiana (come la verginità femminile)? Perché si parla di Dio, di angeli e di cherubini? In cosa credono queste persone? Se esistono gli aerei da guerra, il telefono e le fotografie a colori, perché i personaggi hanno comportamenti tipici di una società più antica? Non sarebbe stato più logico creare un mondo fantasy invece di immaginare un futuro fantascientifico ma totalmente implausibile?
L’altro elemento che mi ha lasciata perplessa è la struttura della “società matriarcale” su cui dovrebbe essere basata Anima. Onestamente, non credo che l’autrice sappia come funziona una società matriarcale. Viene detto che su Anima le donne sono emancipate mentre al Polo vengono oppresse, ma concretamente non vediamo nessuna differenza tra i due sistemi. Su Anima, tutte le donne sposate fanno le casalinghe e mettono al mondo nidiate di figli; sono costrette ad accettare matrimoni combinati fra consanguinei (che schifo) e ad evitare qualsiasi tipo di promiscuità sessuale. Al Polo le cose paiono funzionare esattamente allo stesso modo — anzi, vediamo donne che esercitano professioni tipicamente maschili (come il meccanico o l’architetto) e una maggiore tolleranza verso la sessualità extraconiugale. Quindi, dove sta la differenza?
I personaggi
La costruzione dei personaggi secondari è già stata ampiamente criticata da altri lettori; mi limiterò quindi a dire che ho trovato esasperante il fatto che tutti, ma proprio tutti trattino male Ofelia così che quest’ultima possa suscitare la pietà del lettore ricoprendo il ruolo di Cenerentola della situazione. Non è credibile che la quasi totalità degli abitanti di questo mondo sia tanto crudele, meschina e corrotta. Il livello di assurdità è tale che, paradossalmente, ho provato maggiore simpatia verso personaggi “negativi” come Thorn o Berenilde piuttosto che verso la protagonista. Perlomeno i primi hanno una personalità, un obiettivo e un piano per raggiungerlo, mentre Ofelia non è capace neppure di allacciarsi le scarpe senza mettere a repentaglio la propria incolumità.
Fidanzati dell’inverno ha riscosso un grande successo in Italia e all’estero, è stato acclamato anche dai recensori più severi e la sua pubblicazione ha ricevuto un’accoglienza a dir poco entusiasta. A lettura ultimata, mi chiedo — non senza un pizzico di cinismo — se tutto questo calore non sia in parte dovuto all’ottima campagna di marketing realizzata da E/O in occasione del lancio della serie. Questo perché, onestamente, fatico a capire come un romanzo così pieno di cliché e palesi punti deboli abbia potuto essere paragonato a Harry Potter e a Queste Oscure Materie, due capolavori della letteratura per ragazzi che ben poco hanno a che vedere con quest’opera in termini di profondità e complessità.
Di seguito cercherò di riassumere quelli che sono stati, per me, pregi e difetti di questo libro.
PRO
La scrittura
La prosa di Christelle Dabos è vivace, scorrevole, cinematografica. In termini di stile e ricchezza lessicale, questo romanzo è senza dubbio superiore alla media degli young adult contemporanei. Ho apprezzato particolarmente le capacità descrittive dell’autrice, che rendono gli ambienti del romanzo molto vividi e colorati.
L’atmosfera
Premesso che ho un debole per le ambientazioni steampunk, ho trovato le atmosfere di questa storia estremamente immersive e affascinanti. La struttura del mondo, il sistema magico e soprattutto l’idea alla base di Città Celeste sono davvero originali e brillanti. Purtroppo la città è sottoutilizzata all’interno della storia, che si svolge quasi esclusivamente in ambienti chiusi e isolati (scelta quanto meno discutibile, considerato che l’autrice compie uno sforzo evidente per creare un universo ampio che avrebbe potuto essere sfruttato meglio).
Il ritmo
Fidanzati dell’Inverno è un libro che si fa divorare, riuscendo a tenere vivo l’interesse del lettore anche nelle parti più lente e descrittive. So che su questo punto ci sono opinioni contrastanti, ma io l’ho trovato scorrevole e di facile lettura.
CONTRO
La protagonista
Buon Dio, la protagonista. Ofelia è il personaggio più insulso, incompetente, insignificante che si possa immaginare. Ormai sono abituata ad imbattermi in ragazze goffe e impacciate all’interno della letteratura young adult, ma nel caso di Ofelia queste caratteristiche costituiscono l’unico tratto saliente della sua personalità. Per il resto, la nostra eroina non ha nessuna qualità, ambizione o capacità, se non quella legata al potere di cui è dotata fin dalla nascita. È scialba e insignificante, non si prende cura di se stessa (si veste male, non si pettina, ad un certo punto dice di non lavarsi da una settimana e la cosa non pare crearle disagio), è incapace di instaurare rapporti interpersonali (è cronicamente timida, non sa articolare le parole, nessuno la capisce perché mugugna mentre parla), non riesce a portare a termine nemmeno le attività più semplici perché inciampa quando cammina, rompe qualunque cosa tocchi, si strozza mentre mangia e cade tentando di sedersi. Il suo livello di passività all’interno della storia è esasperante: viene costantemente guidata, indirizzata, manipolata dagli altri personaggi, senza mai reagire o ribellarsi. Il suo unico scatto di orgoglio avviene nelle ultime cinquanta pagine, tramite una reazione rabbiosa fine a se stessa che non ha alcuna reale conseguenza all’interno della vicenda.
Il world building
Se è vero che l’atmosfera di questo libro è immersiva e affascinante, è anche vero che la costruzione del mondo lascia molto a desiderare in termini di logica e coerenza interna. Non ho capito perché, se ci troviamo in un futuro post-apocalittico, le persone pensano e si comportano come borghesi dell’Ottocento. Il mondo delle Arche dovrebbe essere il risultato della futura esplosione della Terra e della nascita di una nuova società frammentata: perché allora il linguaggio, l’arredamento, il modo di vestire dei personaggi rispecchiano quelli di due secoli fa? Se gli esseri umani non credono più in Dio e le religioni non esistono, perché i personaggi sono legati a valori tipici della morale cristiana (come la verginità femminile)? Perché si parla di Dio, di angeli e di cherubini? In cosa credono queste persone? Se esistono gli aerei da guerra, il telefono e le fotografie a colori, perché i personaggi hanno comportamenti tipici di una società più antica? Non sarebbe stato più logico creare un mondo fantasy invece di immaginare un futuro fantascientifico ma totalmente implausibile?
L’altro elemento che mi ha lasciata perplessa è la struttura della “società matriarcale” su cui dovrebbe essere basata Anima. Onestamente, non credo che l’autrice sappia come funziona una società matriarcale. Viene detto che su Anima le donne sono emancipate mentre al Polo vengono oppresse, ma concretamente non vediamo nessuna differenza tra i due sistemi. Su Anima, tutte le donne sposate fanno le casalinghe e mettono al mondo nidiate di figli; sono costrette ad accettare matrimoni combinati fra consanguinei (che schifo) e ad evitare qualsiasi tipo di promiscuità sessuale. Al Polo le cose paiono funzionare esattamente allo stesso modo — anzi, vediamo donne che esercitano professioni tipicamente maschili (come il meccanico o l’architetto) e una maggiore tolleranza verso la sessualità extraconiugale. Quindi, dove sta la differenza?
I personaggi
La costruzione dei personaggi secondari è già stata ampiamente criticata da altri lettori; mi limiterò quindi a dire che ho trovato esasperante il fatto che tutti, ma proprio tutti trattino male Ofelia così che quest’ultima possa suscitare la pietà del lettore ricoprendo il ruolo di Cenerentola della situazione. Non è credibile che la quasi totalità degli abitanti di questo mondo sia tanto crudele, meschina e corrotta. Il livello di assurdità è tale che, paradossalmente, ho provato maggiore simpatia verso personaggi “negativi” come Thorn o Berenilde piuttosto che verso la protagonista. Perlomeno i primi hanno una personalità, un obiettivo e un piano per raggiungerlo, mentre Ofelia non è capace neppure di allacciarsi le scarpe senza mettere a repentaglio la propria incolumità.
January 17, 2021
this had all the elements of books i love: broody love interest, wintry world, intense politics, unique magic system. and yet! i just could not connect at all with the main character and found myself unable to really care about her journey at all.
December 30, 2022
Me encantó.
Es sorprendente porque siendo una novela muy young adult con sus clichés habituales, la autora consigue hacer que se nos olviden por lo bien envuelta que está su historia.
Porque este libro es por encima de todo original. Si os gusta que os sorprendan, os lleven por caminos inexplorados que os hagan asombraros por el fascinante sentido de la maravilla, pues tenéis que leer este libro.
Yo lo he disfrutado muchísimo.
Además es una lectura pausada, que se toma su tiempo para el desarrollo de su trama (que es un poco decimonónica en todo pero al estilo francés) y personajes. No es que te enamores de los personajes pero son lo suficientemente interesantes (y el tandem de la prota con su tía es fantástico... es que la tía es una REINA), y como digo, ese mundo que crea la autora lleno de pequeños detalles tan únicos y originales hacen que para mi haya resultado una lectura totalmente deliciosa.
Pd. es el primero de una trilogía, necesito ya mismo el 2.
Es sorprendente porque siendo una novela muy young adult con sus clichés habituales, la autora consigue hacer que se nos olviden por lo bien envuelta que está su historia.
Porque este libro es por encima de todo original. Si os gusta que os sorprendan, os lleven por caminos inexplorados que os hagan asombraros por el fascinante sentido de la maravilla, pues tenéis que leer este libro.
Yo lo he disfrutado muchísimo.
Además es una lectura pausada, que se toma su tiempo para el desarrollo de su trama (que es un poco decimonónica en todo pero al estilo francés) y personajes. No es que te enamores de los personajes pero son lo suficientemente interesantes (y el tandem de la prota con su tía es fantástico... es que la tía es una REINA), y como digo, ese mundo que crea la autora lleno de pequeños detalles tan únicos y originales hacen que para mi haya resultado una lectura totalmente deliciosa.
Pd. es el primero de una trilogía, necesito ya mismo el 2.
September 30, 2020
4****
A great reread! I loved the world and enjoyed the characters of Ophelia, Foster and Gail. Might have to reread the second book now.
Original review:
That was really interesting and a rather unusual fantasy book to what I usually read! Long ago there was a cataclysm called The Rupture and the world split its lands into celestial floating islands, known as Arks. Over each, the spirit of an immortal ancestor abides- they ere said to be the survivors of the rupture. Due to the Rupture, each Ark has strict rules regarding marriage and reproduction. In addition, each Ark is known for its own power- each one unique and different.
Ophelia is an Anima with the specific gift of being able to read the emotions, thoughts, and scenes of objects belonging to past owners. She is extremely powerful at this, being one of the few who were actually trained to develop their power further. She also has the ability to be able to travel through mirrors. Ophelia is head-strong but soft spoken and loves her job in a museum here she can read the past items if she wishes to. Unlike her family members, she is not interested in appearances and couldn't care less about marriage or reproducing.
However, her simple life is soon upturned when she is told she HAS to marry a man from a far off, not-well-known land. As declining the marriage would mean banishment and family shame, Ophelia has to leave behind her family and much loved museum to the cold ark known as the Pole and follow her fiancee to the Citaceleste, the Capital. Here things are not as they seem and Ophelia is unable to trust anybody.
Armed with her quiet bravery, her curiosity and listening skills, Ophelia is able to uncover the truth and a larger political purpose to her marriage is at play. Ophelia is treated dreadfully by those in the Citaceleste however she does meet very few she can trust. The people of this place are manipulative and proud, and their customs are completely different to what Ophelia is use to. She is unlucky in the sense that she clearly does not feel comfortable and does not belong there and mean/terrible things seem to be directed to toward her.
Ophelia was a great character, despite myself thinking that she needs to say something-speak her mind, we do have a character who has a quiet form of bravery and endures much pain. It was interesting to read how the author created a world where the social norms seem quite different from my own. You couldn't help but feel sorry for Ophelia as she is faced with an arranged marriage that she just doesn't want, and she is at odds with the other women in her family and those from the Pole who only seem to care for appearances and social standing.
This book as probably more of a 3.5*** rounded up. This book is not constant action, but instead, rather introspective from Ophelia's POV. This focused more on the world building and understanding the powers and manipulations of others, so some parts of the book did seem to drag. However, overall I did enjoy this novel and I am going to read the second book to find out what happens next.
A great reread! I loved the world and enjoyed the characters of Ophelia, Foster and Gail. Might have to reread the second book now.
Original review:
That was really interesting and a rather unusual fantasy book to what I usually read! Long ago there was a cataclysm called The Rupture and the world split its lands into celestial floating islands, known as Arks. Over each, the spirit of an immortal ancestor abides- they ere said to be the survivors of the rupture. Due to the Rupture, each Ark has strict rules regarding marriage and reproduction. In addition, each Ark is known for its own power- each one unique and different.
Ophelia is an Anima with the specific gift of being able to read the emotions, thoughts, and scenes of objects belonging to past owners. She is extremely powerful at this, being one of the few who were actually trained to develop their power further. She also has the ability to be able to travel through mirrors. Ophelia is head-strong but soft spoken and loves her job in a museum here she can read the past items if she wishes to. Unlike her family members, she is not interested in appearances and couldn't care less about marriage or reproducing.
However, her simple life is soon upturned when she is told she HAS to marry a man from a far off, not-well-known land. As declining the marriage would mean banishment and family shame, Ophelia has to leave behind her family and much loved museum to the cold ark known as the Pole and follow her fiancee to the Citaceleste, the Capital. Here things are not as they seem and Ophelia is unable to trust anybody.
Armed with her quiet bravery, her curiosity and listening skills, Ophelia is able to uncover the truth and a larger political purpose to her marriage is at play. Ophelia is treated dreadfully by those in the Citaceleste however she does meet very few she can trust. The people of this place are manipulative and proud, and their customs are completely different to what Ophelia is use to. She is unlucky in the sense that she clearly does not feel comfortable and does not belong there and mean/terrible things seem to be directed to toward her.
Ophelia was a great character, despite myself thinking that she needs to say something-speak her mind, we do have a character who has a quiet form of bravery and endures much pain. It was interesting to read how the author created a world where the social norms seem quite different from my own. You couldn't help but feel sorry for Ophelia as she is faced with an arranged marriage that she just doesn't want, and she is at odds with the other women in her family and those from the Pole who only seem to care for appearances and social standing.
This book as probably more of a 3.5*** rounded up. This book is not constant action, but instead, rather introspective from Ophelia's POV. This focused more on the world building and understanding the powers and manipulations of others, so some parts of the book did seem to drag. However, overall I did enjoy this novel and I am going to read the second book to find out what happens next.
October 14, 2018
4.25 Stars.
I really enjoyed this YA debut novel by French author Christelle Dabos. It has won numerous awards in Europe so it was no surprise that it has recently finally been translated into English. I don't read many translated books and was excited to give this one a go! I have read some wonderful reviews about the French version. I wanted to see what sort of atmosphere it had. It did not disappoint!
In a unique universe, the world has been smashed up into different "arks". Ophelia is a young woman living on Anima. She has the ability to travel short distances through mirrors and can also read objects histories by touch. When against her wishes she is betrothed to a man on another Ark, Ophelia has to leave her secure and loving home and travel to a cold and desolate ark to marry him. Thorn is a powerful man, and has many enemies who will stop at nothing to see his and his future wife's demise.
I have read a few reviews commenting on the misogyny A Winter's Promise and its characters. While I agree, yes there is a lot of it, I must say I took it differently than a lot of those reviewers. I believe it is a story of a young woman finding her power in such a landscape and navigating her way through it. I feel like the story line has a purpose. And I feel it will take much more than one book to get there. The scene is set, and yes it's depressing to be a woman in this book, especially Ophelia. But there are three more books coming, and I am really excited to see how strong she becomes, and how she can change her world for the better.
Honestly I didn't find it any more misogynistic than 99.9% of the other YA books I have read. The most popular YA franchises generally have the mistreatment of women as a theme. If a YA book can bring this to light I am all for it, provided there is an adequate resolution of the story line and at least permits young readers to recognise the issues and feel inspired to change their own world.
It reminded me a lot of The Selection, and The Red Queen series in certain ways, but I really disliked those series, I don't really like books that deal with competing for a man's love. I found The Mirror Visitor to be much more encouraging. She doesn't even want to be with the 'hero' of the book, and has so many other strengths going for her than the love of a man, and I think that is made perfectly clear.
The author has created such a unique and expansive world for her characters. I absolutely loved reading about the scenery and what on earth she was going to get herself into next! It had so many twists and turns! I found getting through this book extremely easy, completing it in just three sittings.
I liked the characters even more than I was expecting, even Thorn I gradually warmed to slightly by the end, even though he was a grump of a character. I can't wait to find out more about him in subsequent books!
It ends in a MAJOR cliffhanger, but I really want to read what happens next!
Would I Recommend A Winter's Promise?
It was fun. Pure YA entertainment. Because it was translated from French it had a very unique vibe to it which I can only imagine is due to the authors background and talent. It was eerie and imaginative, detailed and the universe was so expansive! I thoroughly enjoyed it and imagine most fans of YA will feel the same way.
Many thanks to Text Publishing for a copy of A Winter's Promise to review.
For more reviews check out my
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I really enjoyed this YA debut novel by French author Christelle Dabos. It has won numerous awards in Europe so it was no surprise that it has recently finally been translated into English. I don't read many translated books and was excited to give this one a go! I have read some wonderful reviews about the French version. I wanted to see what sort of atmosphere it had. It did not disappoint!
In a unique universe, the world has been smashed up into different "arks". Ophelia is a young woman living on Anima. She has the ability to travel short distances through mirrors and can also read objects histories by touch. When against her wishes she is betrothed to a man on another Ark, Ophelia has to leave her secure and loving home and travel to a cold and desolate ark to marry him. Thorn is a powerful man, and has many enemies who will stop at nothing to see his and his future wife's demise.
I have read a few reviews commenting on the misogyny A Winter's Promise and its characters. While I agree, yes there is a lot of it, I must say I took it differently than a lot of those reviewers. I believe it is a story of a young woman finding her power in such a landscape and navigating her way through it. I feel like the story line has a purpose. And I feel it will take much more than one book to get there. The scene is set, and yes it's depressing to be a woman in this book, especially Ophelia. But there are three more books coming, and I am really excited to see how strong she becomes, and how she can change her world for the better.
Honestly I didn't find it any more misogynistic than 99.9% of the other YA books I have read. The most popular YA franchises generally have the mistreatment of women as a theme. If a YA book can bring this to light I am all for it, provided there is an adequate resolution of the story line and at least permits young readers to recognise the issues and feel inspired to change their own world.
It reminded me a lot of The Selection, and The Red Queen series in certain ways, but I really disliked those series, I don't really like books that deal with competing for a man's love. I found The Mirror Visitor to be much more encouraging. She doesn't even want to be with the 'hero' of the book, and has so many other strengths going for her than the love of a man, and I think that is made perfectly clear.
The author has created such a unique and expansive world for her characters. I absolutely loved reading about the scenery and what on earth she was going to get herself into next! It had so many twists and turns! I found getting through this book extremely easy, completing it in just three sittings.
I liked the characters even more than I was expecting, even Thorn I gradually warmed to slightly by the end, even though he was a grump of a character. I can't wait to find out more about him in subsequent books!
It ends in a MAJOR cliffhanger, but I really want to read what happens next!
Would I Recommend A Winter's Promise?
It was fun. Pure YA entertainment. Because it was translated from French it had a very unique vibe to it which I can only imagine is due to the authors background and talent. It was eerie and imaginative, detailed and the universe was so expansive! I thoroughly enjoyed it and imagine most fans of YA will feel the same way.
Many thanks to Text Publishing for a copy of A Winter's Promise to review.
For more reviews check out my
Blog
Want to read
September 20, 2024A friend of mine thought this book was Howl's Moving Castle. Now I can't unsee it.
September 15, 2019
16/5/19
I bought this book back in March when I was visiting my sister, I had been eyeing it for some time because of the cover and MY GOSH! I am so so happy that I had a go at it, because this was SUCH a lovely fantasy!! This is going straight to my favourites shelf. I will be reviewing this book on my Youtube soon!! :)
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I bought this book back in March when I was visiting my sister, I had been eyeing it for some time because of the cover and MY GOSH! I am so so happy that I had a go at it, because this was SUCH a lovely fantasy!! This is going straight to my favourites shelf. I will be reviewing this book on my Youtube soon!! :)
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June 28, 2018
Un fantasy incantevole, che mi ha rubato il cuore e che è entrato a far parte dei miei libri preferiti di sempre. Leggetelo! 💙 Vi racconto la mia esperienza di lettura qui: https://youtu.be/GnJQNP6vfqc
February 16, 2021
[3.5 stars]
The pros: strong atmosphere, inventive world-building and Ophelia is a unique main character that I was rooting for. The magic/powers aspect of this novel were really cool, though arguably under-developed (though this is the first volume of a series, so I imagine that would be improved in later volumes).
The cons: a meandering plot that takes a while to dole out information in odd ways. I think if I re-read it I wouldn't necessarily have these same feelings, but on my first read it was a bit disorienting (and not in the fun way where I could just go along with it). Also for a YA book, this has some weirdly adult content or discussion of topics like miscarriage, abuse, and infidelity that don't feel like they are given the space to be examined seriously. It was a bit jarring for me, not going to lie.
I've heard this series gets better as it goes along, so I may continue because my library has the next books and I like the setting and Ophelia enough to know more.
The pros: strong atmosphere, inventive world-building and Ophelia is a unique main character that I was rooting for. The magic/powers aspect of this novel were really cool, though arguably under-developed (though this is the first volume of a series, so I imagine that would be improved in later volumes).
The cons: a meandering plot that takes a while to dole out information in odd ways. I think if I re-read it I wouldn't necessarily have these same feelings, but on my first read it was a bit disorienting (and not in the fun way where I could just go along with it). Also for a YA book, this has some weirdly adult content or discussion of topics like miscarriage, abuse, and infidelity that don't feel like they are given the space to be examined seriously. It was a bit jarring for me, not going to lie.
I've heard this series gets better as it goes along, so I may continue because my library has the next books and I like the setting and Ophelia enough to know more.
April 25, 2019
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Long ago, a cataclysm shattered the world into many floating celestial islands. These Arks, have each developed in distinct ways, possessing its own unique relationship to time. Beneath her worn scarf and thick glasses, Ophelia hides the ability to read and communicate with the souls of objects, and the power to travel through mirrors. Her peaceful existence on the Ark of Anima is disrupted when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, from the powerful Dragon clan. Ophelia must follow her fiancée to the floating capital on the distant Ark of the Pole. Why has she been chosen? Why must she hide her true identity? Though she doesn’t know it yet, she’s become a pawn in a deadly plot.
The short review...
Some readers would probably fight me on the fact that I wasn't loving this at 24% and yet I still gave A Winter's Promise 5 stars... Well that is because it was the perfect setup for a story I didn't expect and which in hindsight needed that 24% to give us a feel for Ophelia.
Ophelia is NOT an adventurer. She is NOT badass. She is not cool, neat and no one can claim she is a special snowflake!!! Ophelia is a museum curator. She is responsible in the same way an absent minded professor is, that is dedicated to their work and otherwise floating through life, not worrying much about material possessions, lovers or appearances.
Then she is thrust into the most incredible of worlds!!!! Can you imagine?! Well that world doesn't appear until 25%! But we HAD to see what kind of person Ophelia is and what her circumstances are and the horrible situation she is thrust into... that took 24%. This is actually quite a tight setup, some books take upwards of 40 to 50% (and I could name quite a few hyped books that do...) so really A Winter's Promise gets underway and once it does I'm drawn right into Thorn's world... The world that Ophelia must navigate otherwise she won't survive to see herself married.
So what is this world like?! Well... it seems like a rather old-fashioned world at first... Ophelia is forced by her family to marry this man who for all intents and purposes lives on the moon! She has no idea what to expect and her fiancee does NOT enlighten her. We get the sense right off that Thorn is not going to be a man who makes you swoon because he knows how to treat a woman... No in fact Ophelia realizes quickly that she will have to rely on herself. It is quite a modern treatment for what starts out with an old-fashioned idea. I came to really appreciate how he relied on Ophelia being a capable young woman who is no slouch in his politically pitfalled world.
I won't say much more because as the book opens up, like Ophelia, you come to understand how life at the Pole works. It's political, about illusion and appearances (being the opposite of what you expect) and no one is safe! In fact, every single person she meets is morally grey, thank goodness her godmother came with her! There are no easy fixes (no one has answers for her) and yet Ophelia does come to find some allies...
This is the first book of a series... so it ends at a pivotal point, but it is clearly just the beginning. We've gotten the best start, a well thought out solid one, that will serve us well through the entire series... and the slow burn on this romance is so realistic and raw that I can't help rooting for Thorn and Ophelia even though he is more a real man with all the flaws than most book boyfriends. This is a world that I want to get even more deliciously complex and strange... And I want to see Ophelia continue to grow and come into her own as a woman of action!
Cover & Title grade -> A+
I LOVE the cover... That is what attracted me to it at the first, it sold the premise and it didn't disappoint as I read. I loved that I got an idea of what the setting looked like from the cover. And I love that the other covers in the series follow the same solid color with ink drawing of a location pattern that is established with A Winter's Promise. I NEED this series on my book shelf!
What are a couple of the many highlights in A Winter's Promise?
-Mega Politics!
This is the dirty, underhanded, morally grey way politics should be done! There is social rivalry, warring clans and romantic scandals, oh my! It makes for a rather treacherous world to maneuver through and its NOT terribly action oriented though there are plenty of backstabby events and horrid situations instead...
-An Incredible World!
First off Archibald's castle, changing spaces, masterpiece of architecture is literally a place I WANT to visit! It is an embassy where the different rivals can come and not be killed off... only is it as safe as they say?! Well there are some magical things like taking rooms to their own spaces, that do a good job at maintaining safety but there are always ways to get around those features...
-All the Magic!
Thorn and his aunt Berenilde can flay Ophelia with their minds... And Archibald, the ambassador, is mentally connected to his family! There is another clan all about illusions, and Ophelia gets up close and personal with one magical outfit! It's all deliciously dangerous...
As a Writer...
One of the things I really appreciate about A Winter's Promise as a writer as well as a reader is her characters!
I've shared my loving adoration of Ophelia, but I'll say again that I love how she jumped into this world that is everything she is not and is dealing with it. She is not in her natural habitat and that is what made her so great...
I adore the cold and hard Thorn and his very subtle softening toward Ophelia. It doesn't happen swiftly and it isn't evident very much. He is a hard worker though and comes to respect Ophelia and that I really admire! The harder they are the more gooey they are inside...
Berenilde, hahahhahha, you won't know if she's you alley or your enemy! I did wonder at her incredible crush on their patriarch... It's a hard world that Thorn has lived in if this is his only ally...
I come to appreciate Ophelia's godmother as much as she does, when she continually is outraged for her nieces sake!
And there are so many more characters that will take you by surprise... Archibald, the architect, the mechanic, the servant that shows Ophelia the ropes, the Knight, Thorn's sister! GAHHHH! It's a lush, lush world with complex characters... Oh and I can't forget to mention Ophelia's scarf that is animated and lively like a squirmy pet!!
If you're looking for a heroine who decidedly DOES NOT want to fall for her fiancee, then you need Ophelia! If you want a heroine who is not gorgeous, scintillating and super talented then you need Ophelia, who has a couple gifts but with only rather limited uses... Yet she persists none-the-less! If you want a world that is an intriguing mix of politics, magic and back stabbers then you need A Winter's Promise!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!
July 7, 2019
So I forced myself 225 pages into this, but then I read some negative reviews, accepted that it will not get better and am now allowing myself to dnf it. (considering I read more than 50% of this I'll think about counting this towards my reading goal but probably not)
I seriously, honestly, full-heartedly can't understand how this has such a high rating. This book is sexist and misogynistic to the bone. The MC said that Anima is ruled by matriarchs but... How?! The next thing that is told us about the world is that the women basically have no say in who they marry and they marry to have children and be housewives. In what world is that not sexist and misogynistic?! The MC is being married off to some creepy dude who doesn't ONCE treat anyone in his general vicinity with respect or anything even resembling basic human decency. He immediately ignores or mistreats his fiancé, her family and her chaperone (once again, how is even having a chaperone in your story not a big gigantic red flag for how sexist and misogynistic your story is and a big fucking indicator that nowhere in this story do women have any power even equal to men?!). Until the 225 page mark where I simply didn't want to keep reading he doesn't warm up more than that he sometimes manages to treat the MC, his fiancé, with some decency. Like I said, sometimes.
Then we met this... Specimen Mr. Archibald who's literal characterization is: womanizer, misogynist, rape-joke maker and overall disgusting human being. I do not want this guy touching me with a 100 feet pole, I don't want this guy in the book, I don't want to read about every woman begging at his feet to be taken because that is disgusting and hurtful and not at all something that should be in a book where "matriarchs" rule. Because they'd freaking chopped his dick off the first time he ever opened his mouth.
All female characters in this suck. Every female character who isn't the MC is basically the embodiment of at least one harmful stereotype about women. Seriously, go spin a wheel, open this book to a probably random page and you can find a woman described as shallow, brutal, a bitch, a whore, or weak. I'm not here for that, no one should be here for that.
The MC is a freaking nightmare. That girl thinks about her "instincts" like she has any. She isn't conventionally pretty, she wears ugly, old dresses, she wears a ragged scarf, her hair is always in knots, she wears glasses that change color according to her mood and her will and she's short. And you're constantly reminded because the reader apparently cannot be trusted to remember such vital information as to how BIG Mr. Thorn is. No, you don't understand, he's SO TALL. He's even TALLER than the TINY LITTLE MC WHO EVERYONE CALLS "CHILD" EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE MARRYING HER OFF TO SOME SCARY DUDE (red flag anyone?!) WHEN HE'S SITTING IN A CHAIR. I don't want to say the writing is bad but it really, really is. I'm not usually one to be annoyed at character descriptions because it helps understand them and picture them but if I have to read one more time about how tall Mr. Thorn or how small and ugly our MC is, I'll set this book on fire.
Though I do kind of understand because the characters have no other qualities. The MC is dumb and incredibly flat, she never speaks because aside from "I'm plain and therefore pathetic" there is nothing to her. Mr. Thorn is incredibly rude and freakishly tall, which once again, is everything there is to say about him after 225 pages. Do I have to say bad writing again or is that implied?
Let's speed this up, I don't want the spend more time on this nightmare: the plot. Or better yet the absolute lack of one. Nothing happens. At all. In a four hundred something pages book I'd expect at least some modicum of a story, some string pulling me along. But there's nothing. The MC gets mistreated at home, in comes the fiancé who keeps mistreating her on the way to his home, then she is mistreated at his home and still there is nothing even resembling a plot. Like there could be a setup for political intrigue but who am I kidding? The MC definitely wouldn't be able to play any even kind of important role in that since she's basically a glorified child (can I just say yuck again?), Mr. Thorn is absolutely incapable of ever even stumbling upon a personality and his aunt is so busy being pregnant by her ancestor (YUCK) and hating on someone she called HER CHILD and physically abusing (yes, you read that right, she tortures her) to ever be involved.
I know this is an abrupt end but tbh I'm just done and ready to move on. YIKES to this rating because there were so many really, really worrying tropes in here that I just genuinely don't hdnerstand how anyone can enjoy it. (but it you did, good for you)
I seriously, honestly, full-heartedly can't understand how this has such a high rating. This book is sexist and misogynistic to the bone. The MC said that Anima is ruled by matriarchs but... How?! The next thing that is told us about the world is that the women basically have no say in who they marry and they marry to have children and be housewives. In what world is that not sexist and misogynistic?! The MC is being married off to some creepy dude who doesn't ONCE treat anyone in his general vicinity with respect or anything even resembling basic human decency. He immediately ignores or mistreats his fiancé, her family and her chaperone (once again, how is even having a chaperone in your story not a big gigantic red flag for how sexist and misogynistic your story is and a big fucking indicator that nowhere in this story do women have any power even equal to men?!). Until the 225 page mark where I simply didn't want to keep reading he doesn't warm up more than that he sometimes manages to treat the MC, his fiancé, with some decency. Like I said, sometimes.
Then we met this... Specimen Mr. Archibald who's literal characterization is: womanizer, misogynist, rape-joke maker and overall disgusting human being. I do not want this guy touching me with a 100 feet pole, I don't want this guy in the book, I don't want to read about every woman begging at his feet to be taken because that is disgusting and hurtful and not at all something that should be in a book where "matriarchs" rule. Because they'd freaking chopped his dick off the first time he ever opened his mouth.
All female characters in this suck. Every female character who isn't the MC is basically the embodiment of at least one harmful stereotype about women. Seriously, go spin a wheel, open this book to a probably random page and you can find a woman described as shallow, brutal, a bitch, a whore, or weak. I'm not here for that, no one should be here for that.
The MC is a freaking nightmare. That girl thinks about her "instincts" like she has any. She isn't conventionally pretty, she wears ugly, old dresses, she wears a ragged scarf, her hair is always in knots, she wears glasses that change color according to her mood and her will and she's short. And you're constantly reminded because the reader apparently cannot be trusted to remember such vital information as to how BIG Mr. Thorn is. No, you don't understand, he's SO TALL. He's even TALLER than the TINY LITTLE MC WHO EVERYONE CALLS "CHILD" EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE MARRYING HER OFF TO SOME SCARY DUDE (red flag anyone?!) WHEN HE'S SITTING IN A CHAIR. I don't want to say the writing is bad but it really, really is. I'm not usually one to be annoyed at character descriptions because it helps understand them and picture them but if I have to read one more time about how tall Mr. Thorn or how small and ugly our MC is, I'll set this book on fire.
Though I do kind of understand because the characters have no other qualities. The MC is dumb and incredibly flat, she never speaks because aside from "I'm plain and therefore pathetic" there is nothing to her. Mr. Thorn is incredibly rude and freakishly tall, which once again, is everything there is to say about him after 225 pages. Do I have to say bad writing again or is that implied?
Let's speed this up, I don't want the spend more time on this nightmare: the plot. Or better yet the absolute lack of one. Nothing happens. At all. In a four hundred something pages book I'd expect at least some modicum of a story, some string pulling me along. But there's nothing. The MC gets mistreated at home, in comes the fiancé who keeps mistreating her on the way to his home, then she is mistreated at his home and still there is nothing even resembling a plot. Like there could be a setup for political intrigue but who am I kidding? The MC definitely wouldn't be able to play any even kind of important role in that since she's basically a glorified child (can I just say yuck again?), Mr. Thorn is absolutely incapable of ever even stumbling upon a personality and his aunt is so busy being pregnant by her ancestor (YUCK) and hating on someone she called HER CHILD and physically abusing (yes, you read that right, she tortures her) to ever be involved.
I know this is an abrupt end but tbh I'm just done and ready to move on. YIKES to this rating because there were so many really, really worrying tropes in here that I just genuinely don't hdnerstand how anyone can enjoy it. (but it you did, good for you)
July 12, 2019
Grande NO! Fidanzati dell'Inverno è appena stato portato in Italia e da quando è uscito in libreria se ne parla in continuazione. Tutti sembravano adorarlo ed ho provato a leggerlo anche io. Lasciatemi dire che è stata una delusione enorme.
I personaggi non mi sono piaciuti per niente, la protagonista è carina all'inizio ma è davvero troppo imbranata e rincoglionita. Io posso capire voler rappresentare una ragazza comune un po' impacciata, ma qui sfioriamo davvero la labirintite. Il resto dei personaggi è come se non esistesse per me. Piatti e anonimi come la suola delle mie scarpe.
Pecca enorme è il ritmo del romanzo che per me lentissimo, per 200 pagine non succede assolutamente nulla! E' stato un parto terminarlo. Ammetto di aver fatto skimming potente.
La storia non è niente di speciale, domani l'ho già dimenticata. Nemmeno lo stile di scrittura è riuscito a farmi sognare. L'unica cosa interessante è stato il "potere" della protagonista che legge il passato degli oggetti e passa attraverso gli specchi, però chiaramente non viene sfruttato.
In sostanza non mi è piaciuto praticamente nulla. Orripilante davvero.
Delusione, non ho altro da aggiungere.
I personaggi non mi sono piaciuti per niente, la protagonista è carina all'inizio ma è davvero troppo imbranata e rincoglionita. Io posso capire voler rappresentare una ragazza comune un po' impacciata, ma qui sfioriamo davvero la labirintite. Il resto dei personaggi è come se non esistesse per me. Piatti e anonimi come la suola delle mie scarpe.
Pecca enorme è il ritmo del romanzo che per me lentissimo, per 200 pagine non succede assolutamente nulla! E' stato un parto terminarlo. Ammetto di aver fatto skimming potente.
La storia non è niente di speciale, domani l'ho già dimenticata. Nemmeno lo stile di scrittura è riuscito a farmi sognare. L'unica cosa interessante è stato il "potere" della protagonista che legge il passato degli oggetti e passa attraverso gli specchi, però chiaramente non viene sfruttato.
In sostanza non mi è piaciuto praticamente nulla. Orripilante davvero.
Delusione, non ho altro da aggiungere.
April 13, 2023
A fascinating world and magic system, bogged down by court intrigue and a main character that could have used more spice and distinctiveness
Reading was all that Ophelia was good at
Initially I really enjoyed the book but around 1/3 in the whole court intrigue starts and takes around 300 pages, with the main character and me as reader rather in the dark on all the supernatural plots and plans. Also there are a lot of coincidences, especially in meeting someone in a private party, that made me less invested in the story.
And why does the magic scarf that is mentioned like 10 times not more useful/impactful to the plot?
Initially I did love that Ophelia is a main character who is soft spoken and there is a unique magic filled world, around a destroyed world, including traveling through mirrors. Ophelia is married off to another clan and a taciturn kind of prince. Despite a professed matriarchal society, obeying men is coming back a lot. In addition there are lots of coincidences, especially in meeting a certain Archibald in a private party
A Winter's Promise reminds me of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms of N.K. Jemisin, with Thorn, the grumpy taciturn Northerner kind of like Nahadoth from Jemisin book.
Wish the main character had some more, hem, character. She is a bit bland and doesn’t get much nor is overly curious to better understand her new surroundings.
The situation she is dropped in is very Versailles court intrige like, with people saying to each other stuff like:
You are contemptible &
Varnish over filth
This pole intrige takes way too long, with too little texture for me. The knight is interesting as are Faruk and Artemis, Berenilde is also good, but writing this review slightly more than a week later I can't recall much about these side characters nor can I say what the resolution to this book of the quartet was, besides that I felt dissatisfied.
Disappointed, expected a lot of the high rating and the gorgeous cover.
Reading was all that Ophelia was good at
Initially I really enjoyed the book but around 1/3 in the whole court intrigue starts and takes around 300 pages, with the main character and me as reader rather in the dark on all the supernatural plots and plans. Also there are a lot of coincidences, especially in meeting someone in a private party, that made me less invested in the story.
And why does the magic scarf that is mentioned like 10 times not more useful/impactful to the plot?
Initially I did love that Ophelia is a main character who is soft spoken and there is a unique magic filled world, around a destroyed world, including traveling through mirrors. Ophelia is married off to another clan and a taciturn kind of prince. Despite a professed matriarchal society, obeying men is coming back a lot. In addition there are lots of coincidences, especially in meeting a certain Archibald in a private party
A Winter's Promise reminds me of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms of N.K. Jemisin, with Thorn, the grumpy taciturn Northerner kind of like Nahadoth from Jemisin book.
Wish the main character had some more, hem, character. She is a bit bland and doesn’t get much nor is overly curious to better understand her new surroundings.
The situation she is dropped in is very Versailles court intrige like, with people saying to each other stuff like:
You are contemptible &
Varnish over filth
This pole intrige takes way too long, with too little texture for me. The knight is interesting as are Faruk and Artemis, Berenilde is also good, but writing this review slightly more than a week later I can't recall much about these side characters nor can I say what the resolution to this book of the quartet was, besides that I felt dissatisfied.
Disappointed, expected a lot of the high rating and the gorgeous cover.
July 28, 2021
Premier livre de l'année et aussi premier coup de coeur !
Ce n'est pas très étonnant, en grande amatrice d'univers fantastiques, que Les Fiancés de L'hiver m'ait plu, mais là, j'ai vraiment été subjuguée, et j'avais bien du mal à lâcher le livre (toujours un bon signe, quand je lis un livre dans savoir m'arrêter).
L'univers est incroyablement riche, et pourtant j'ai l'impression que ce premier tome n'aura qu'effleuré la surface, et qu'il reste une foule de choses à découvrir par la suite... J'ai hâte !
La plume de l'autrice est un régal - c'est limpide, fluide et bien écrit sans être alambiqué. Pas étonnant que les pages se tournent si facilement.
Les personnages m'intriguent autant que l'intrigue elle-même, et si je me suis attachée à Ophélie (et m'interroge beaucoup sur Thorn et même Berenilde) elle m'a parue trop changeante par moments... Même si ça la rend peut être plus humaine après tout. À suivre... (Mais s'il y avait un bémol à tout ceci, ce serait clairement le traitement des personnages, parfois caricaturaux, trop peu développés, voire malsains..)
Une belle entrée en matière pour cette lecture de L'hiver, et maintenant je n'ai qu'une hâte: me plonger dans le second tome !
Ce n'est pas très étonnant, en grande amatrice d'univers fantastiques, que Les Fiancés de L'hiver m'ait plu, mais là, j'ai vraiment été subjuguée, et j'avais bien du mal à lâcher le livre (toujours un bon signe, quand je lis un livre dans savoir m'arrêter).
L'univers est incroyablement riche, et pourtant j'ai l'impression que ce premier tome n'aura qu'effleuré la surface, et qu'il reste une foule de choses à découvrir par la suite... J'ai hâte !
La plume de l'autrice est un régal - c'est limpide, fluide et bien écrit sans être alambiqué. Pas étonnant que les pages se tournent si facilement.
Les personnages m'intriguent autant que l'intrigue elle-même, et si je me suis attachée à Ophélie (et m'interroge beaucoup sur Thorn et même Berenilde) elle m'a parue trop changeante par moments... Même si ça la rend peut être plus humaine après tout. À suivre... (Mais s'il y avait un bémol à tout ceci, ce serait clairement le traitement des personnages, parfois caricaturaux, trop peu développés, voire malsains..)
Une belle entrée en matière pour cette lecture de L'hiver, et maintenant je n'ai qu'une hâte: me plonger dans le second tome !
April 15, 2019
Magnifique, Madame Dabos!
Eins der besten Bücher, die ich bisher gelesen habe! Es fiel mir anfangs etwas schwer in die Geschichte einzusteigen. Eine komplexe Story, die man erst gegen Ende des Buchs wirklich entschlüsselt, denn nichts ist wie es scheint.
Der Schreibstil ist grandios, die Figuren sind voller Tiefe und kompliziert gestrickt, ich liebe Ophelia, ich liebe Thorn, ich liebe es, dass dieses Buch nicht ist was ich erwartet habe!
Oh, und irgendwer von der ELLE hat den blödsinnigen Vergleich zu Harry Potter aufgestellt, damit hat dieses Buch überhaupt gar nichts gemeinsam, vergesst das mal ganz schnell und überzeugt euch am besten selbst!😉
Eins der besten Bücher, die ich bisher gelesen habe! Es fiel mir anfangs etwas schwer in die Geschichte einzusteigen. Eine komplexe Story, die man erst gegen Ende des Buchs wirklich entschlüsselt, denn nichts ist wie es scheint.
Der Schreibstil ist grandios, die Figuren sind voller Tiefe und kompliziert gestrickt, ich liebe Ophelia, ich liebe Thorn, ich liebe es, dass dieses Buch nicht ist was ich erwartet habe!
Oh, und irgendwer von der ELLE hat den blödsinnigen Vergleich zu Harry Potter aufgestellt, damit hat dieses Buch überhaupt gar nichts gemeinsam, vergesst das mal ganz schnell und überzeugt euch am besten selbst!😉
April 19, 2018
Recensione qui:
https://youtu.be/YOn3Wa7fWN0
https://youtu.be/YOn3Wa7fWN0
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