Series: The Redwinter Chronicles #1
Release Date: June 28th 2022
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 345
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars
Synopsis
If you can see the dead, you will soon be one of them…
Raine can see—and more importantly, speak—to the dead. It’s a wretched gift with a death sentence that has her doing many dubious things to save her skin. Seeking refuge with a deluded cult is her latest bad, survival-related decision. But her rare act of kindness—rescuing an injured woman in the snow—is even worse.
Because the woman has escaped from Redwinter, the fortress-monastery of the Draoihn, warrior magicians who answer to no king and who will stop at nothing to retrieve what she’s stolen. A battle, a betrayal, and a horrific revelation forces Raine to enter Redwinter. It becomes clear that her ability might save an entire nation.
Pity she might have to die for that to happen…
Review
Ed McDonald’s Raven’s Mark series is one of my all time favourite trilogies so I was incredibly excited to read his newest release, Daughter of Redwinter. The story follows Raine, a young woman with the ability to see the dead. Having this ability is a death sentence and if anyone finds out she will be killed. When Raine finds herself at Redwinter, she wants nothing more than to be trained as one of the legendary Draoihn, but instead is forced to serve the apprentices she hoped to train with. When Raine uncovers a plot to harm the van of the LacNaithe clan, Raine has to use her ability to save everyone she knows.
Daughter of Redwinter is a book that feels completely different to McDonald’s previous work. While the story is dark, it doesn’t feel quite as grim. This first instalment is compelling and while it took me a little while to really get into the story, I was completely captivated. The story is well executed and I was definitely on the edge of my seat for the latter half of the book. There were some surprises I didn’t quite expect the ending has made me absolutely desperate to pick up Traitor of Redwinter.
The Raven’s Mark series has really detailed world building and this is true of Daughter of Redwinter also. The magic system based around gates was fascinating and Raine’s ability to see the dead made for some particularly eerie and dark scenes. McDonald explains the magic and history clearly without info-dumping and I can’t wait to see how the world expands as the story continues.
Raine is a really fascinating protagonist and she undergoes so much in one story. I loved seeing her grow as a person and can’t wait to see where the story takes her. I particularly liked seeing her friendships grow with the other girls at Redwinter. I also really liked Sanvaunt and Ulovar and hope we get to see more of them in book two.
Daughter of Redwinter is a tense, gripping start to a new fantasy series. If you’re looking for a book that will have you turning pages long into the night, then look no further than this.
I really enjoyed Daniel Polansky’s Empty Throne books so I was really intrigued to try something else from them. March’s End is a Narnia style story which follows the Harrow family who on the surface look like a normal, everyday family but are also the rulers of a magical world known as the March. When the March is threatened by the End, the Harrow siblings must reconcile their differences and work together to stop the End not only destroying the March but spilling to the human world too.
I’ve always wanted to try Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series but haven’t gotten around to it, so when I heard this would be the first in an all new trilogy I jumped at the chance to read it. A reimagining of the Scarlet Pimpernel, the story follows Eleanor, a young maid who happens to look a whole lot like Marie Antoinette. Tasked with assisting the League to rescue Marie Antoinette and her children, Eleanor embarks on a daring adventure in revolutionary France. But with the aristocrats and vampires being sent to the guillotine, will Eleanor be able to complete her mission and survive unscathed?
Set in a magical New Orleans, the story follows twins Clement and Cristina Trudeau – heirs to an ancient magical family. The twins are still reeling from the death of their father and are trying to care for their dying mother when they discover their mother isn’t sick – she’s been cursed by someone from the magical council their family once ruled. Can the twins come together and discover who is trying to destroy their family before it’s too late?
Bitterthorn tells the story of Mina, a young woman, and daughter of the duke of Blumwald. Once in a generation, Blumwald is terrorised by the Witch, who comes to take a new companion. Once taken, a companion is never seen again. When Mina is herself taken as the new companion, she finds herself living in a remote castle, strangely drawn to the Witch. But with so many secrets, will she find out the truth behind the disappearance of the previous companions?
No Heart for a Thief is the first in a new epic fantasy series that follows Tayen, a young girl seeking vengeance for the murder of her family by soldiers of the Gousht Empire. When she meets Kaylo the famous thief with the ability to steal magic, he saves her and offers to help her learn how to control her magic and how to wield a weapon. As Kaylo and Tayen work together, Kaylo recounts his life and the mistakes he has made – will Kaylo be able to stop Tayen’s quest for vengeance and escape the demons he’s hiding from?
I am absolutely fascinated by historical fiction books that revolve around witchcraft so when I saw that the Last Witch of Scotland was inspired by the true events surrounding the last woman to be hanged as a witch, I just knew I had to read it. The story follows Aila and her mother Janet as they move to a remote town near Inverness, following a horrific fire that killed Aila’s father. When a temporary minister moves to the area he develops a fascination with Aila and her mother that begins to alienate them from the community – but at what cost?
Psyche and Eros is a beautifully told Greek myth retelling. I was initially drawn in by that beautiful cover and was completely hooked from the outset. The story follows Psyche, the princess of Mycenae, who angers the goddess of love Aphrodite. As revenge, Aphrodite sends Eros to deliver a curse to Psyche. However when Eros is hit with the arrow meant for Psyche, he finds himself in love with her. If Psyche ever looks upon Eros the curse will split them apart. Will they find a way to break the curse and be together?
Lured in by that beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis, I picked up The Foxglove King even though I haven’t gotten around to reading Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf yet. The story follows Lore, a young poison runner with the ability to channel Mortem – death magic. Channeling Mortem is illegal so when Lore is caught summoning she’s captured by the Presque Mort, an arm of the church where channeling Mortem is allowed. There Lore learns about a mysterious affliction that is wiping out entire villages and is tasked with using her magic to discover what is killing them. Having no choice but to accept Lore ends up in the Sainted King’s court, attempting to uncover the truth behind the killings, but will she be able to discover the truth before it’s too late?
Garth Nix is back with an all new fantasy adventure featuring Susan Arkshaw and the mysterious booksellers. Picking up after the events of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, the story follows Susan, Merlin and Viven as they are transported to a strange house taken out of time. There they find a series of murders have taken place and an ancient sovereign with the ability to animate stone. The ancient sovereign takes an interest in Susan and together with the help of the other booksellers, the trio must find a way to stop the Lady of Stone before she kills again.
The Bibliophile Chronicles 