This book was so incredible and well written. I was hooked from the start. I can’t wait to read more in the series :)

This was really interesting! I liked the mix of folklore and mythology. The characters were multi-faceted and the setting was good.

Alexandria Warwick’s The North Wind is a poetic and emotionally rich fantasy romance that reimagines classic myths through a darker, introspective lens. Set in a world of eternal winter, the story follows Wren, a resilient heroine who sacrifices herself to protect her sister by becoming the bride of the immortal North Wind, Boreas. Warwick’s lyrical prose and atmospheric worldbuilding create a haunting backdrop for a slow-burn narrative that explores themes of grief, autonomy, and emotional healing. The characters are layered and compelling, particularly Wren, whose strength lies in her quiet defiance and emotional depth.

Despite its strengths, the novel’s slow pacing and emotionally restrained romance may not appeal to all readers. The enemies-to-lovers arc is subtle and thoughtful but lacks the intensity some fans of the genre might expect. Additionally, while the mythological elements are intriguing, the broader world remains somewhat underdeveloped. Still, The North Wind stands out for its introspective tone and elegant writing, making it a rewarding read for those who appreciate character-driven fantasy with a touch of melancholy. It earns a solid 3.75 out of 5 stars for its thematic depth and stylistic beauty.

This was an interesting take on the Beauty and the Beast story. I also kept imagining Disney's beast the whole time even though the MMC was a man/god 😂 

It took time for me to get into the story as everything was a slow burn (the romance, plot and action). However, I'll say around the 60% mark things started picking up and I became more invested in the fate of both MCs. Orla (Mrs. Potts?!) was definitely my favorite character. Early on I wondered who would be "Gaston" and how they'd be portrayed. I liked the alternate version here though I definitely want more of the history in the next book. Overall, I enjoyed the story, it just took a little time for me to get into it. Now onto the West and South Winds!

The North Wind is a very unique read. The setting is interesting and a nice diversion from the popularity fae and dragons right now. Wren is a mix of likeable and unlikeable, but the reasons she's unlikeable are understandable. I could have used a little more personality from the North Wind, what we get comes a little too late, and there is a lot of the same for the middle part of this book. Regardless of the negatives in this book, I plan to continue the series solely for the creative concept and setting.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝 is book one in The Four Winds series by @alexandriawarwick. This is a standalone romantasy that was inspired by Greek mythology meets Beauty and the Beast.

🍰 Enemies to Lovers
🍰 Slow Burn
🍰 Scared FMC
🍰 Wife/Mine
🍰 Grumpy MMC
🍰 TW: Alcoholism

Wren is a wild menace but I love her. She just loves to push the Frost King, Boreas buttons and defy him at every turn. She has her own demons and struggles and uses alcohol as a way to cope.

Boreas is definitely the Frost King through and through. He is extremely closed off and frigid. The poor man has been through so much.

I loved when these two finally stopped battling one another and started to become friends and then eventually lovers.
Keep on mind this is a true enemies to lovers. They was these two are able to heal one another and find their strength again.

Inspired by Beauty and the Beast AND Hades and Persephone? Say no more!

The beginning of the story is very reminiscent of ACOTAR/Feyre’s journey, and I’m not complaining. The story is well written and kept my interest throughout. The romance is an excruciating slow burn that I absolutely couldn’t get enough of. If slow burn isn’t your thing, you may have a difficult time with this one.

Beautiful writing and wonderful world building execution. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

For me, Wren wasn’t a particularly enjoyable character. I didn’t feel she had real chemistry with the Frost King. The world building felt inconsistent at times, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged. I really like the concept/idea for this, as I love beauty and the beast, but it just wasn’t a hit for me, unfortunately.

I read the self-published version of this and was so excited to pick up the trad-published story! Really fun romantasy. Great for anyone looking for a quick engrossing read.

Just didn’t Hit for me and ended up a DNF… ((My apologies for the late review. (I am now cleaning them up for the new year)) It just felt very immature and like badly plotted fanfiction.... not my favorite... i wont be posting (obviously ) my apologies

3.75 Stars

This was a really great "standalone but follow the same world in the next book" that I have read in a long time. It read as a full journey, you were left wanting for nothing, and the story wrapped in the perfect HEA.

*slight spoilers following*
Only caveat to that the HEA is I would love if the author had expanded more on the MMC turning human repercussions in this book, because I'm unsure if it is addressed in West Wind.

I took stars off because while the book left me satiated, I wasn't devouring or obsessed with the story and world. I LOVED the nods to Disney's Beauty & the Beast without it being the same/exact moment.

Overall a good, satisfying read, but not necessarily a read I'll go back to again and again.

A little slower and tougher to get in to but definitely had the slow burn trope I love and need! The alcoholism could go either way, for me it was interesting and not something I’ve come across yet.

I can totally see why people are into this book. It's a solid romantasy. But if you read tons of that genre this one may fall flat. I was not of fan of the main character and the alcoholism. But if you like slow burn give it a try.

This was the true slow burn enemies to lovers I needed. It gave ACOTAR, or at least what Feyre and Tamlin were supposed to be, but better. While I enjoyed the two aforementioned tropes, the book really was rather dull. The alcoholism was not something I really wanted to read through. The FMC was so rigidly dull that that it took away from anything witty that ever happened. Boreas was fun and I did enjoy his character. I was upset that he was saddled with this dull creature.

The North Wind by Alexandra Warwick completely sucked me in and didn’t let go. It’s got the Beauty and the Beast vibes along with the myth of Hades and Persephone, but with its own unique twist—and holy cow, it delivers.
Book one in The Four Winds series was so captivating!
I loved this story so much! I loved the way Warwick expertly weaved these into an enchanting romantasy tapestry.
I can’t wait for book two!

The North Wind by Alexandra Warwick completely pulled me in and didn’t let go. It’s got all the Beauty and the Beast and Hades and Persephone vibes, but with its own unique twist—and wow, it delivers.

The story follows Wren, a tough, sharp-tongued woman who sacrifices herself to save her sister from the Frost King, Boreas. She’s taken to his icy kingdom, and what starts as pure hostility slowly evolves into something deeper. Wren is fiery, flawed, and so relatable—she’s fighting grief, self-doubt, and a rough past, but she’s still fiercely loyal and determined. Boreas? Classic broody, powerful hero who keeps everyone at arm’s length…until her. The tension between them is unreal, and their slow-burn romance? Chef’s kiss.

The world-building is gorgeous—icy castles, creeping darkness, and a fascinating mythology surrounding the Four Winds. Even the side characters shine. Orla is so sweet, Pallas is an absolute cinnamon roll, and they add so much warmth to the story. Wren’s relationship with her sister also stands out—it’s messy and raw but so heartfelt.

If you’re into slow-burn enemies-to-lovers with sharp dialogue, rich world-building, and characters you can’t help but root for, you need this book. It’s one of the best romantasy reads I’ve picked up this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press

Saga Press is one of my favorite science fiction and fantasy imprints. They publish some of my favorite books and so I always pay special attention to their new releases. The North Wind makes our books to read this month because its a fantasy romance, involves sisters and mythology. It has all the things that one of my favorite books Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher has.

Wren loves nothing more than her identical twin, Elora. And so when Elora is chosen to be sacrificed to the King of the the North Winds, she secretly takes her sister's place - beginning her journey into the intrigue of the world of the dead.

The book puts a unique twist on the Hades and Persephone myth. Wren is an character who shows quite strongly the effects of trauma - she has some harmful coping strategies which have helped her survive the death of her parents and her difficult life. Yet despite her trauma, she is still compassionate and kind to others, making her an easy heroine to root for. I really enjoyed cheering her on and am excited for the books representing the other 3 brothers.

Loved this book so much. I wish more people 1: had knowledge of what inspired ACOTAR instead of saying this is a ripoff, and 2: were patient enough to read into the therapy that is hidden in this book. I really appreciate the care taken to show, not tell the difficulty in getting through life through the lens of this couple. More couples than people realize are EXACTLY like this.

I struggled a little to get through this. It was an okay read. For fans of beauty and the beast or ACOTAR it might be instant love, however it left me a little less than satisfied.