Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 416
Goodreads description: Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians' general, Sir. Training to be a warrior- and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather- she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.
So when the scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she's scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she always go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics - and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.
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I didn't really enjoy the first 40+ pages of this book. Not because it was bad but because I was in a book hangover. And I seem to compare every character from the previous book that I read. But after I got over my book hangover, this book was just so good.
Let's first acknowledge the unique concept of this book. 4 out of the 8 kingdoms are named after seasons- winter, summer, autumn and spring. These seasons experience one season forever.The other half is called the Rhythm wherein they experience all 4 seasons throughout the year. How smart of Sara to make use of the seasons on the real world and make this wonderful book.
It had great world building. Sara Raasch made it so easy to visualize the setting of all the kingdoms. Each had its unique touch onto it. You can easily identify whether they're from Winter or Summer or what else. They even have their own swear words that relates to the kingdom that they're living in! Adding to that, Sara Raasch is an incredible writer. Her writing was so easy to understand yet her choice of words makes each sentence spark with feelings.
The characters were very much relatable. Meira's connection with each one touched me. Mostly, her relationship with Sir, the Winterian general. Meira mirrors people in society today. She says she will do anything to please Sir. Anything to serve her kingdom. There is a love triangle in this book. But it's a good one. And it does not steal the center stage of the book. It's been a long time since I've encountered a good love triangle.
This book touched on the emotional buttons in my heart.
A fight scene could lead to a really emotional sentence that will break you. Piece by piece. This book showed me patriotism. How love for ones country (in this book, love for Kingdom) could drive them to do things they never would have thought to do. How a small flicker of hope in the eyes of one could light up a big dark cave full of people who needs saving. It's amazing how humans could be so determined and risk themselves for the lives of others. This novel was also about finding you place here on earth. Where you truly belong and that each one has a role to play.
The twists was really good and wrecks with your brain. But one twist I sort of saw coming but actually didn't. I wished that the plot would go here and it actually went there but not the exact plot that I was thinking of. Do you understand me? Anyway, there were so many intricately woven plot lines. Everything interconnects and is somehow related.
I recommend this book to everyone. It needs more hype. I put this book on the underrated books that needs to be acknowledge more. READ. THIS. BOOK.
4.5/5 BANANAS
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