Cover Image: Winter War Awakening (Blood Rose Rebellion, Book 3)

Winter War Awakening (Blood Rose Rebellion, Book 3)

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An epic conclusion to the series. Magic rises. Loyalties are tested, and suspense holds you in its grip all the way up to the end.

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My Rating: 4.5 stars
Bought a finished copy and read that for this review.
May Contain Spoilers if you haven't read the other books.
Winter War Awakening Stars off right where Lost Crow Conspiracy ended and jumped right back into all the action that was happening to Matyas and Anna. We still have multiple perspectives going on and it does really help with knowing what is going on in the war and how things are progressing. The praetherian get torn between helping the humans of the world and the other group that wants to take over it all again. We see Matyas really dealing with this more as he is King of the Crows and he has a following of sorts. We also see Anna and Gabor dealing with this in very different ways. Gabor is off fighting the war in combat, and Anna is still just trying to survive being on the run which leads her to get into some not-so-great situations as the book goes on.

The wide variety of characters we have in this book are all from the previous two books and help or cause problems for Anna and Maytas. I really liked seeing everyone again and learning which side of things they were on and why to a certain extent. You can really tell that the world they lived in had really changed by the end of this book in multiple different ways and that was good.

Overall I thought this was a good ending to the trilogy. I did still have some questions by the end of the book about how the whole magic system worked, but that also wasn't that surprising because of how Anna and Maytas were still learning about it themselves especially Maytas as he is the only one of his kind now. Seeing the war finally end and a sort of peace fall over everyone was nice to see and it was of course not without losses but that's how any war ends sadly. This was a solid 4 star series for me still and I loved all the history and fantastical elements in it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction but wants a little change of pace with some fantasy elements thrown in. If you really love fantasy I'm not sure this is the book for you because of how open-ended some of it ended up being because of the world-changing so much so suddenly and everyone just trying to figure out what to do now.

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I tried reading this book but sadly I didn't make it very far while reading this book. I think that the different point of views made it a bit difficult to understand . I usually love this author's books and I hoped that this one would work out for me.

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The weaving of historical events, magic systems, different myths and legends, new magical creatures and friendships/relationships into one story is magnificent. I adore this trilogy so much and would highly recommend it if people are looking for a historical fantasy.

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Winter War Awakening is the third book in the Blood Rose Rebellion series and if you haven’t picked these books up yet, now might be a good time. Plus…these covers are some of my favorites. Since this is the third and final book, I will do my best to not spoil anything.

This book picks up right about where Lost Crow Conspiracy wrapped up and the journey these characters have been going on is a big one and they aren’t done yet. Noemi is being held hostage and Anna and Matyas are going to do whatever it takes to get her back.

Similar to the last book, we get to experience what is happening from two perspectives – Anna and Matyas and it helped tie everything together for me as they end up splitting up. There were times that I felt that the story dragged a bit but as the book progresses, we not only get to learn more about what happens with the characters, but we get to see how they continue to grow and figure out who they are.

Anna is strong character and doesn’t want to be a weapon…for anyone. Unfortunately, Vasilisa and the praetheria aren’t really going to give her a choice. As she is held captive, Vasilisa pushes and threatens Anna to get her to learn more about her magic and what she can do. Of course, it is all in an effort to get her to help the the praetheria but Anna isn’t willing to do what they want.

Matyas continues to grow over the course of this installment and I love that. He is definitely not the same character he was in book one. Eves did a great job with the secondary characters as well. Noemi, Hunger, and Emilijia are all so well developed and kept things moving along which at times was needed.

As a reader, you can’t forget that there is a war happening and that means there is danger and, in all honesty, not a single one of these characters is safe. Keep that in mind as you read and the only thing I will add to that statement is that I was pleased with how everything wrapped up.

If you’re looking for a book / series that has magic, danger, politics, a solid story, and well-developed characters, consider checking this one out. While there were a few times I struggled to stay engaged, in the end, the story was a good one. I’ll be watching out for what Eves writes next as she has an engaging writing style.

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Rosalyn Eves deserves all my money at this point. My love for the Blood Rose Rebellion series is one of a kind. However, this last installment was not what I thought it would be.

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This book had everything a final book in an amazing series should have. Their heartache, stress, and moments of troublesome questioning if what your doing is really for the good of all. This book just like the previous ones in the series it moves along at a break neck speed so you really don’t want to put the book down for fear that the story would move right along without you. I can not wait to read more from this author.

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Anna Arden is making her last stand in Winter War Awakening, the final book in Rosalyn Eves’ Blood Rose Rebellion trilogy, but her story is also returning to some familiar pitfalls.

Hungary is on the verge of war: With the Austrian Empire and its allies, and with the creatures known as the praetheria that they don’t even see coming. Since being outcast and imprisoned by the humans, the praetheria has been biding their time to attack. Anna and Mátyás know this, but they’re one of few who do, and their efforts to caught up in trying to save praetherian captive Noémi. They play a careful game of chess between the angry creatures and the warring armies, but winning doesn’t feel like a genuine possibility as the fighting grows more intense than ever.

Throughout the series, Eves has done a great job riding the fine line required for historical fantasy– meshing important real-life events in with the impossible magical elements to create something fresh. At the end of the novel, she uses this unique genre to create a show-stopping conclusion but while getting there, Eves struggles to provide fresh, engaging storyline for her characters.

Anna and Matyas go through a revolving door of training and being kidnapped– occasionally training with the people that kidnapped them. A couple of important secondary characters change their alliances in the blink of an eye without much internal conflict recognized. It feels like something we should be past in the third part of a trilogy. There are confrontations, moments of drama, and a bright reveal that help elevate the novel in its latter half, but the first half just doesn’t offer much for readers to sink their teeth into.

While this series doesn’t and in my opinion shouldn’t focus on romance, they way it conveys the small amount of romance it does have is a source of frustration. Yet again, this novel keeps Anna and Gabor for most of the time. Thankfully, it employs a charming device meant to remind you of their connection throughout, and that eases things up a bit. Still, I want to really still how these two work as a team in stressful situations and there’s very little of that. Meanwhile Noemi, who was a great character in her own right in the first book, is essentially chalked up to a romantic straw man. I did appreciate the moment in which Matyas seemed to recognize the error of his ways in his past relationships, though it’s only a brief flash in the overall story arc.

I was happy with the novel’s conclusion, but I needed more from the story and the characters alike. I liked this novel– and this trilogy– and thought it was interesting, but in a sea of YA releases, it’s a bit forgettable.

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This book was everything I would have hoped for when it came to the ending of this trilogy. If you're looking for a unique YA Historical Fantasy than you'll love this one! It's set in Hungary and is loosely based on the events of the Hungarian Revolution of the 19th century. Rosalyn put so much heart into this trilogy and making sure she stayed as true to the history as she could.

Anna's character arc from the beginning of this trilogy grew immensely and she just continued to get braver as the books progressed. Matyas, Gabor, Noemi, and Hunger are all unique characters in their own way and this group brings about so much change for the country throughout the story. I am going to miss them but I'm grateful I can read them whenever I want to!

The audio was fantastic! It's narrated by two of my favorites, Fiona Hardingham and Steve West. They have narrated so many of my favorites and this one is no exception!

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With the binding broken, the world is in upheaval trying to find where the praetheria fit. Book three resumes where book 2 left off with Anna fleeing for her life and Matyas alive and ready to work with Anna. The future of magic is at stake and Anna and Matyas must be leery of those who wish to control them. Can they figure out not only how to work together, but how to save the world as well?

The alternating viewpoints are clearly labeled and the author uses them to weave a rich story filled with adventure and uncertainty. The story telling continues to be flawlessly interwoven with history and research, to form an alternate magical world. The character growth is dramatic and the author’s attention to detail has created a perfect ending filled with positive messages and reader intrigue.

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This book had everything a conclusion should have. There were moments of tension, happy moments, moments of questioning if you have the guts or strength to do a difficult task, and obviously there were many, many heartbreaking moments.... Especially chapters 19-22.....
My favorite character, Hunger, was definitely a very compelling person. I wasn't sure if I should like him, considering the fact that half the time I wasn't sure where his loyalties lied....but then I saw a brief glimpse of who he really, really is deep down and I was just in awe. He's one of those examples of "what's a monster but someone we don't understand". Hunger is just amazing and I started loving him the moment we first met in book one And then there's Mátyás 😍😍 he's so full of flaws and doubts, that it's so easy to identify with him. But despite all his short comings, Mátyás pulls through. He might not want to rise up to the challenge but HE DOES. And that right there takes strength. Anna was a character that I honestly didn't really like in book 1....she was kinda whiney...but she also goes through a ton of ordeals and learns from her mistakes. She grows so much and learns to deal with situations a lot better. She stops blaming herself for every little thing and comes to terms with who she is and I love that!
I definitely recommend picking this book up of you like historical fiction/fantasy.

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The final in a wonderfully written trilogy this story brings together some of my favorite things. Reliance on someone that you barely know and fighting for what you believe in while conquering yourself. While I did get a tad bored through some of it most of the book follows the same format and writing style as the first two. This makes it an easy read that can be done all in one sitting. You will find yourself swept into the world and enjoying the main characters while rooting for them.
Perfect for fans of the Chronicles of Narnia.

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WINTER WAR AWAKENING is a stunning conclusion to this trilogy of fantasy and fate. Shining with hope in the thick of brutal rebellion, shedding blood for each player's dream of freedom, and steady with the beat of a heart who knows victory cannot sacrifice goodness or else all dreams shatter. Written in Eves' lovely prose this final installment will both twist your heart and satisfy the story's journey.

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While reading Winter War Awakening, I could not help but wonder what if Lucy from the Chronicles of Narnia and Meg Murray from A Wrinkle In Time were to meet, it be in this book. Befriending a stranger and having that person be your key survival buddy in getting through a Winter War does not get more conflicting than that. There were some parts however, that went off on small tangents making it hard to follow but when it got back on point, you could not stop reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider this title for our YFantasy collection. That is why we are giving this book 4 stars.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc copy of this novel.
Winter War Awakening ended with the same wonderful spirit as the first one. I am so impressed by Rosalyn Eves strong writing and ability to maintain the plot direction from the 1st book to the last without losing any steam. Blood Rose Rebellion gradually became on of my favorite series that I have read in the last several years. The story staying strong and developed at a pace where you didn't feel like you were just being gouged for extra money by having to get a filler book. All the books in this series told a story that just weren't being used to make money. Thank you! I truly recommend these books to readers because they are genuinely well written stories.

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<i>Don't be afraid of your gifts. You do no one a favor by making yourself small.</i>

Winter War Awakening took my heart and tore it into little pieces. Anna's and Matyas's story unmade me.

Maybe it's too soon after reading this book, but I can barely untangle all of my feelings about this book. Suffice it to say, I loved it. It was the perfect conclusion to a beautiful series. Here's why:

1. Seeing Anna's growth throughout this series has been wonderful. She continues to discover herself, learn to accept herself. Her maturity shines with her decisions, with her growing selflessness. I've been cheering her on from book one, but by the end, I was crying, grieving, laughing, loving with her. She is by far one of my favorite heroines right now.

2. Matyas. Matyas, Matyas, Matyas. He's so impulsive, funny, self-deprecating, honest... how can I not love him? It's not secret that I live off of character development, and that's one of the reasons I love Matyas so much. He's so wonderful.

3. The expansion of the magic system. It happened in Lost Crow Conspiracy with the praetherians. In Winter War Awakening, Eves further explores the magic system, and it is so intriguing: with more folklore, Anna's and Matyas's powers, and the nearness of the praetherians in this book, I am just in awe.

4. This book goes at break-neck speed, just as Lost Crow Conspiracy had. My heart was continuously pounding, and I couldn't stop turning pages because I just needed to know what happened. I was so invested--in this story, in the characters... I couldn't pull myself away.

5. Eves doesn't sugarcoat the brutality of this war. In fact, it's horrible, but realistically so. Everything was at stake, and I felt it because of this.

6. All of the side characters. Noemi, Hunger, Emlijia, the liderc, Gabor, and so many more. I loved them all. So, so much.

7. The themes, the meaning, weaved into this book are so timely and lovely. It made my heart both hurt and soar at the same time.

Honestly, I could keep writing more. There's so much to love about this book. Eves completely smashed my expectations and I couldn't be happier because of it (also a little sad because it's the end, but that's normal.) I cannot wait to read more from Eves.

Favorite Quote: <i>I might lose my whole life to waiting, and I'd rather have an imperfect happiness now than the hope of a more perfect one later.</i>

Sigh. I just want to read mooooooore.

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Hold onto your Chimera self folks because you are in for a very exciting ride! Winter War Awakening picks up pretty much right where Lost Crow Conspiracy ends - searching for Naomi. Author Rosalyn Eves pumps up the drama compared to what was in the two previous books and right away the reader is pulled into the action. This book has the duel narrative as seen in the last book and we get an even better insight into the characters. I love the themes of finding oneself and learning to become more than what is expected of you. A strong female lead backed by an equally strong cast of characters the Blood Rose Rebellion series mixes a high does of fantasy overlaid with historical settings. Winter War Awakening was the perfect conclusion to the series and let me just say again action packed! Wow!

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