Although I haven't loved this series, this installment was my favourite so far. I thought Thray made a good protagonist and I enjoyed the quest element of the narrative a lot. I also appreciated seeing a different part of the world and felt that the plot was more streamlined, which I appreciated. I still do have issues with the writing style (I'm not a great lover of first person present tense) and feel that the reader is kept at a distance from the action, which makes it hard for me to truly invest in the characters. With that being said, however, I will definitely be finishing up the series as I would like to know how everything wraps up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This series has been an unexpected pleasure to read. This author is now an auto-buy author for me! This is book 3 of 4 in the series and they're all just as amazing as the previous. The characters are so multi-faceted and the writing is engaging and easy to follow. I'm surprised I don't see these gushed about more on social media. But, I know I'll share them!

While I was approved to receive an ARC of this from Netgalley, it looks like I requested it too close to the publication date. I wasn't actually able to download the arc before it was archived and as such have not read the book.

However, I did purchase the first book in the series and have plans to read it at some point!

The writing style was very pleasant. The story was exciting and has not let me go. Very much looking forward to more from the author.

So I went into this book without reading any synopsis. So I was shocked to find a different protagonist at the helm of this book. It took me a little while to get used to but I enjoyed Thray’s point of view and exploring her Demi god status. It is a little bit of a slower book. Likely because we are getting to know Thray better. Will definitely be going on to the next (and last book?) in the series.

**Big thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Barrow of Winter is the third book in the Four Pillars series, this book takes place several years after the events in book 1 and 2, and follows a new main character. Thus, it is not necessary to have read the two books prior to reading this.
This book is a wintery adventure where our main character Thray, who is half immortal, is on a personal journey to learn more of, and discover the immortal side of her and her family.

Honestly, if Goodreads had .5 ratings I would bump this down to a 3.5 star rating. The story was cozy and atmospheric when the characters went out to travel snowy lands. However, this book misses in the characters' personalities. After finishing this book, I realized I only somewhat liked one character, but even so.. I cannot properly describe their personalities. Even if you like fantasy, this book is not for everyone since story-wise there isn't much happening. They travel a long way, but it is mostly just that: travel, with a few run-ins to create some problems. If you however love atmospheric fantasy books set in viking-inspired lands, this is the perfect book for you!

Another gorgeous book by HM Long! Her atmospheric and cinematic writing has a way of pulling me right into this rich world. I loved Thray's journey and cannot wait for the next installment in the series.

Apparently, this is book three in a series, though that certainly wasn’t mentioned on the site where I requested it. It does make me wonder what my experience would have been like if I’d read the preceding books. That being said, I still quite enjoyed it, so I guess this can be read as a standalone with minimal issues!

The world building was fascinating and well incorporated. Details surrounding the immortals, demi-gods, and religion were included throughout the plot and descriptions in ways that brought the world to life. I enjoyed the mythology of this fictional world and how thoroughly it was incorporated into the lives of the characters. I also enjoyed how well the setting and the dangers of the terrain/weather were utilized to add to the tale. The author did an excellent job with the atmosphere, creating an immersive story.

This was by no means a quick read though. And not just related to length (it’s not that long), but more related to the pacing of the plot. It’s slow. There’s not much action, though there is some scattered throughout. The book is much more focused on Thray’s character, the intricacies of being a demi-god, and the power struggles related to that, especially surrounding having siblings who are 100+ older than you. It also emphasized politics, religion, and conflicting loyalties and desires. It took me a little bit to get into the read as I was expecting a more fast-paced, action-filled read, but once I adjusted my expectations, I quite enjoyed this read.

If you enjoy slower fantasy reads that focus on worldbuilding more than action and are set in a Norse-like world, then this would be the read for you.

A Canadian fantasy author is an automatic yes for me and HM Long did not disappoint. I enjoyed it so much. A true standalone, i received an arc and also listened to it on audio. The MC was unlikeable in the beginning but they grew on me. Have been recommending all over. SUPER pretty cover in real life too.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc.
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the previous two books in this world, particularly for HM Longs wonderfully descriptive and atmospheric writing. This was still present in this book, but unfortunately I struggled a bit more with this one.
For me, it took almost to 60/70% to feel like anything happened , however after that it was fast paced and interesting I just would have liked to feel more invested a bit sooner.
The main character Thray, the daughter of Sixnit and Ogam, was a step away from Hessa the usual main character. I admired certain qualities in her but mostly it was hard to feel connected and to like her.
I did enjoy the immersive world and seeing some familiar characters, and this did have a dark undertone and takes you on an adventure. The ending as well is particularly emotional and beautiful in its own way.
If you liked the previous instalments of this series I would recommend and I'll continue reading the series.

Thank you Netgalley, for this ARC.

I loved the authors Hall of Smoke books, but this wasn't as good. I felt no connection with main character so i only made it to 32%.

HM Long does NOT disappoint with this stunning, stunning novel. It was great to see these characters in such a lovely, well developed world.

I admit I took my time with this as I wanted to enjoy my time and absorb in the writing , the atmosphere, but I found it impossible to try and read it slowly because within a few chapters I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the world building, the magic, demigods , cults, and political intrigue. There is romance but it isn’t the focus and I have to add that I’m so happy to discover there will be a sequel because I wasn’t ready for this to come to an end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this title.

I struggled with this. I felt no connection to the characters, their motives and their arcs. I really wish this book, actually most of the series, had been something more. I’m hoping the new series by the author will provide that, since it sounds very interesting.

Also, it could just be me being hyper aware, but I’m not a fan of how both the books by this author, that I’ve read, have had queer villains. I remember her first book by her had one character who also on the good guys’ side, but it’s still a bit unfortunate.

I definitely appreciate Long's world building and character development. From the first pages, the reader feels immersed in Thray's story. And I liked her character growth, a bit of a take on the archetypal hero's journey.

"There's nothing you need to think about - other than the Barrow, and your ceremony... Do not concern yourself with problems that aren't yours."
That tempts me. "Then there is a problem?"

Epic fantasy with plenty of action and intrigue.

Thank you to Titan Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book that I've read from this author. Firstly, H. M. Long's prose is absolutely beautiful - lyrical, but restrained enough to not feel overdone. The setting descriptions were often breathtaking. The author did a fantastic job of building up the atmosphere of this ice-covered world.

I appreciated that Thray was not a typical protagonist. She's prickly and complex, and it was refreshing to see a main character that was so considered and conniving. However, I think this is perhaps why I struggled a bit during the middle of the book. The opening and the endings moved fast for me, and were fantastically well-paced, but I found the middle dragged a bit and I had to push through to continue reading. I feel as though this is purely because I didn't connect with the character enough; the middle section was fairly slow-burn (more focused on character development than plot), and I wasn't connected enough with the protagonist to feel completely pulled along. My interest did ramp up again when the plot picked up in pace toward the end.

I think this is a wonderful example of adult fantasy set in a very vivid, immersive world. My issues with the protagonist are likely subjective, so other readers may feel differently. Thanks once again to the publisher and author for providing the e-ARC.

This was such a fabulous book set in the same world as Hall of Smoke. I really enjoyed following our new protagonist. The exploration of cults, tombs, and dark magic was delicious. This met my expectations and then some!

Aaaahhh I am SPEEDING through this book because I finally had time to read after the holidays but also I'm officially addicted to anything by H M Long. Covers? Amazing. Titles? Amazing. Description, and writing, and follow through? Love it all. Thray is a no-nonsense heroine, like Hessa before her, and there's such a great balance of narrative detail, action, and inner thoughts. Super happy I refreshed on the series before starting, it's nice to be immediately familiar with the world when meeting the new characters. (But this can also be read as a standalone!) Now to sit back and do a slow, leisurely re-read to savor this book until the series continues next year! Recommend for fans of tricksy found family, winter vibes, and brooding on the ramifications of immortality.

Updated review:
I'm officially addicted to H M Long. Covers? Amazing. Titles? Amazing. While this is technically a standalone, I’m glad I picked this up soon after the previous book set in this world, so that I got the full context for recent history and side characters.

Thray’s quest to find her identity is a main theme in the novel. Orphan, daughter of a mortal and a traitorous god, adopted niece to the High Priestess who slew her father, Thray remains uncertain of her place in Iesa. There’s her duties as priestess, and her betrothed, Havar, but when one of her distant half-siblings - also a daughter of a god - arrives with a foreign expedition, Hessa seizes the chance to go with them to learn more about herself from the only other people who might understand who she is. Among the Duamel people, living in a land of darkness, and her powerful half-siblings, Thray must untangle her relationships with her companions, her own inheritance from the gods, and all the secrets being kept by the other children of Winter.

For the first couple chapters, I read slowly, took my time, simply enjoyed the writing and the new scenery. Things shift pretty quickly, once Thray arrives in Duamel, and by the halfway point I couldn’t put it down. There is so much to unpack on not very many pages. Thray is brought north by one of her half-siblings, Siru, who has veiled motives, centuries of experience, and magical abilities over ice. Before long, Thray is introduced to more of her extended family, and I loved how their personalities, powers, and skewed perspectives as immortals challenged Thray’s experiences. And if a pack of scheming demigods isn’t enough, there’s also a suspicious cult, brooding on the ramifications of immortality, and a smattering of political intrigue.

As with the rest of the series, there is romance present, but it is not the focus. From the moment Havar appeared, I was Terribly Afraid for his safety, because he seemed like a decent fellow and what are the odds of the main character’s betrothed surviving the entirety of her adventure? No comment on whether these fears were founded, but I appreciated how thoughtfully Havar and Thray both treated their relationship (most of the time), giving serious thought to what their life would be like if Thray didn’t end up sharing his human mortality.

So happy there’s going to be a sequel/companion novel, cause the end of this book came so fast and I need to have more time with Thray.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC*

In Barrow of Winter, we follow Thray, daughter of Ogam and Sixnit. As the daughter of a god and a mortal, Thray is unsure whether she has any powers or immortality. When Ogam's demigod children come down from the north to Eangen and promise to help Thray find her powers, she goes on a perilous journey to a land of endless winter and night.

Before I started this, I worried I wouldn't like Thray as much as I did Hessa. However, my fears were laid to rest early in the book. Thray was a fascinating protagonist. Her conflict between her old life as a village priestess with a mortal husband or a life of immortality and power with her siblings was well-fleshed out. While I didn't much care for Thray's fiancé and thought he was quite whiney, I liked how he illustrated Thray's struggle. Thray was a really strong protagonist who comes into her own power in this book and I had fun following her. Fans of Hessa and the other characters from the previous books won't be disappointed either. Hessa and crew do make - if brief- appearances here as well.

As for Thray's siblings, if Ogam was a trickster, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Their motives and loyalties were opaque, and I trusted absolutely none of them throughout the book. However, they did fascinate me and I liked seeing their individual relationships with Thray evolve throughout the story. Some of them reminded me a bit of the Norse god Loki which worked well in the Viking inspired world.

As in the first two books, the worldbuilding expanded here as well. I was happy to explore another part of Long's world again, in this case, Duamel and find out more about the pantheon. This time, we learn more about the gods Winter and Fate. The mix of Viking, German and Roman mythology and way of life continues to work really well in this installment. The mystery around the Hinterlands who are plagued by endless winter and night complimented the main plot well and tied the setting nicely into the overall story. Long sure does love her snowy mountains and frozen lakes and I found myself utterly immersed into her tale.

To conclude, I had a great time reading Barrow of Winter and gave it 4/5 stars.

H M Long delivers an exciting and unpudownable novel set in a icy world . Great world building and storytelling, interesting characters.
I loved this novel and want to read the other in this world.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine