I’m going to be brutally honest here but I think this is my last venture with The Four Winds series. Don’t get me wrong I loved “The North Wind”, the first book in this series. But sadly I’ve been chasing that high ever since. Book 2 “The West Wind” was ok, but not great. “The South Wind” has finally done it and my patience is out. And I don’t think I can drag myself through the fourth book only to be disappointed again. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves this review is for “The South Wind” so let me get to it.

My number one biggest complaint of this entire book is our MFC Sarai. She spent I kid you not 70% of this book just complaining. And when she isn’t complaining she’s lying at every available turn. She honestly reminds of child throwing a temper tantrum the entire book. I knew there was absolutely zero hope of me ever liking her.

The only thing that kept me from DNFing the book was Notus. That man understands he made mistakes in the past and will bend over backwards to make it right. His loyalty and love for Sarai was beautiful to watch. Even though in my opinion he deserves so much better.

The story and plot as a whole for “The South Wind” was extremely lacking. And there wasn’t enough action to keep the reader engaged. Leaving the book to feel pretty boring.

Overall, like I mentioned earlier this is the end of the road for me with this series. And sadly I have to report I can’t recommend this book. I would recommend you checking out the first book in the series. Lastly big Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

As a huge fan of fairytale inspired stories and second chance romances, I absolutely fell in love with The South Wind.

Sarai is an enjoyable heroine. She's not a fighter but she's still strong which is refreshing to see in a fantasy novel. I also thought her struggles were significant and she was great at navigating them. I found Sarai's character to be compelling and refreshing.

Notus and Sarai were second chance romance perfection! Their love story felt epic and was filled with so much yearning. It's passionate and emotional. Everything I could have asked for in this type of romance. Plus their chemistry is out of this world. I rooted for this couple so hard.

The world is immersive and easy to understand.

I have not read the other books in the series yet but was able to read this as a standalone.

An epic love story! Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed the setting and the characters in this book. I had previously read the first book in the series, The North Wind, and this by comparison seemed much more fleshed out and rich. I enjoyed the character's backstories and motivations, especially Sarai's--she didn't fit the warrior archetype nor the damsel in distress archetype, but her role and personality as something in between suited her character very well.

The history of the two main characters prior to the story really made the yearning feel genuine, and I found myself hurting for both Sarai and Notus.

I hoped the side characters were explored a bit more, but overall it was a fun read.

This rekindled my enjoyment of the series, and I will probably go back and read book 2 for completion-sake.

Thank you NetGalley and SagaPress for the ARC.

I struggled a bit to connect with this story but may need to return to it another time! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Every single book in this series feels like the perfect example for fantasy romance. I loved both The North Wind and The West Wind and was so excited when I got approved for the ARC of The South Wind. The way the author does the reimagining of fables and tales and writes the stories feels all consuming at points and leaves me with a book I just can't stand to put down. I can't wait to see how she closes the series with The East Wind!

Love this whole series. The reimagining of fairy tales and mythology is unparalleled here, and this is such a great read.

The South Wind by Alexandria Warwick is a stunning third installment that delivers everything I hoped for and more. The world deepens, the stakes rise, and the emotion hits hard — it’s absolutely wonderful. A powerful continuation that left me completely satisfied and eager for more!

This was the first book I've read in The Four Winds series but I'm now looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Sarai, our FMC, has a Sleeping Beauty-esque curse placed on her at birth. She believes she will die on her 25th birthday but before then, she needs to get married and try to help save her Kingdom. Her Kingdom has also been placed under this curse and is suffering from a drought and dark creatures who come out and kill people. To help her people, she is promised to wed a Prince who ends up being super shady and is super into a labyrinth that contains a mystery beast.

There ends up being a little love triangle between Sarai, the shady Prince, and the South Wind, a God who can control the wind who previously dated Sarai when she was 18 but then he left her heartbroken.

It was overall a good story that keeps you wanting to find out what is going to happen. There are a lot of things going on between the love story, the labyrinth, and family drama (expectations from her dad, a dead brother, and a brother who just got married) so sometimes it felt a little complicated. It is not a light read but I kept coming back to it to see how it would end.

This book had a promising start with a sassy and strong FMC that I really enjoyed. The initial dynamic between the main couple was amusing and engaging, and I was looking forward to seeing their relationship develop. Being a second chance romance, I wasn't surprised that there was a miscommunication trope. While not so annoying at first, it remained a theme for the entirety of the story, disrupting the momentum of the romance, which was ultimately disappointing.

About halfway through, the story also took a deep dive into the FMC’s grief and backstory. While emotional depth can be powerful, it felt a bit too heavy for the overall mood the author had built for this story. To sideline Sarai's deeper emotions and internal turmoil from the beginning, just to lay it all on the reader halfway through felt out of place and irrelevant. At that point, I was no longer interested in Sarai's backstory or her grief, I just wanted the plot to move forward. That being said, the book felt longer than it needed to be. Some parts could have been trimmed without losing the heart of the story. I gave this book a 3 star as the writing was lovely as always, and the setting had a unique feel. It just didn’t fully click for me, but it might for others.

This one was a DNF for me. I think this authors writing style did not fit with me. It was overly descriptive. I felt like we had so much time learning what a room looked like and then when it came to character monologue or conversations there cut short. It seemed to be more “let me tell you about it” rather than experiencing it through the characters. Just not my vibe. Thank you for the arc!

I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET THIS ARC!! The Wind series by @alexandriawarwick scratches my fantasy romance itch in the best way. She tells this intricate stories based on fairy tales and myths that are great character studies. This one feature Sarai, a princess, and the South Wind, Notus. It’s second-chance told in an epic way. I’m excited to see how it all wraps up in the East Wind’s book!

This was my first read by this author and part of their series of standalones—and I was pleasantly surprised. The story handles themes of grief and complex family dynamics with care and depth, making the emotional moments feel especially impactful.

While the pacing dragged a bit in places, the overall journey kept me engaged. The characters were well-developed, and their emotional growth felt genuine.

Reading this has definitely made me want to pick up The North Wind next—I have a strong feeling I’ll love the dynamic in that one even more.

Thank you Saga Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is so obviously deeply connected to the author, it shines through in her writing.
🌶️🌶️
If you didn’t know, Alexandria Warwick is a classically trained violinist and performs in orchestras. The South Wind’s protagonist, Sarai, is also a violinist that derives much of who she is from music. The theme throughout this story of how music is comforting, terrifying, tragic, protection, love, family, was so incredibly well done- dare I say- perfect!
Sarai is a cursed princess fated to die on her 25th birthday because of a deal her father made with a god to save her life when she was born. Growing up in royalty, she didn’t experience the love and caring a “normal” daughter should. As the third born, she was free to pursue a career in music that made her known far and wide. The time comes for her to compete in the most prestigious competition, and right before that she meets the South Wind, Notus. What tends to happen when someone is at the top of their game? BOOM, love distraction. But alas, she’s devastated when the South Wind suddenly disappears. She’s even more surprised when he strolls back into her life in the middle of the throne room where her future BETROTHED is standing. At like, 20 minutes in I was giggling and kicking my feet because the DRAMA! So now she’s stuck fighting her feelings for Notus, and her intended who may have information on how to break her curse!
So much happens in this book I talk about it for hours. There was NEVER a dull moment, I was literally engaged 100% of the time. If you’ve read the other two books in the Four Winds series, this is the. best. yet. I’m so serious, I loved the North and West Wind but this one. THIS ONE hits so different.
You’ll love this book if you’re into:

🌪️ Second chance romance
🌪️ Fake engagement
🌪️ Healing trauma
🌪️ Forced proximity
🌪️ He’s her guard! 🥵

Thank you to Saga Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this story of Sarai and Notus. There was so much heartache and struggle but it was beautiful to see the characters overcome. Notus…stoic, strong, steady. Sarai was a little much for until the end, good character development. I’m excited to read the final one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC of The South Wind. Meeting Notus at the end of the previous story had me certain there was a compelling story surrounding him. And reading The South Wind confirmed it.

Notus is a tortured and lonely god, who also has the most beautiful capacity to love and words to describe it. There were many times in the story where I was caught between anguish at Sarai turning him away, and anger that he had ever left her.

Sarai is truly the shining star of the story - abrupt, direct, unapologetic, and afraid to let love in again. She is everyone who has ever had their heart broken, or felt pushed aside, afraid that they haven't lived up to expectations. Sarai finally conquering the labyrinth by giving her younger self grace is a beautiful moment. Only surpassed by she and Notus declaring their love again.

I loved the glimpse of Boreas and Wren, and am intrigued to see how Eurus can possibly redeem himself in his story.

Overall 4.5 stars.

I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if it didn't have a miscommunication trope. Sarai essentially lies or skirts around the truth at every turn. I did enjoy the Labyrinth element of the story.

From the very first page. This book sweeps readers into a vividly imagined world where magic pulses beneath every shadow and destiny hangs in the balance. With a rich tapestry of lore and an unforgettable cast of characters, this fantasy tale offers everything fans of the genre crave: adventure, heart, and high stakes.

At the center of the story is a compelling hero grappling with inner demons and outer threats alike. Their journey from humble beginnings to a confrontation with fate is as thrilling as it is emotionally resonant. Along the way, a diverse ensemble of allies and enemies deepens the narrative, each one distinct and integral to the story’s unfolding.

Enchanting and sultry, The South Wind weaves second-chance romance, ancient curses, and mythological intrigue into a rich fantasy tale. Sarai is a strong, conflicted heroine, and her chemistry with Notus burns as they fake an engagement to uncover dark secrets. With Sleeping Beauty vibes and a twisty Theseus-inspired labyrinth, the stakes stay high. Some tropes are familiar, but the emotional depth and magical tension make this a satisfying, swoony standalone.

The South Wind sounded like it would be right up my alley, plus I enjoyed the previous books in the series. Unfortunately, I just never connected with or like Sarai.

"A sizzling standalone fantasy of second-chance love inspired by Sleeping Beauty and the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur from the author of The North Wind.

Princess Sarai of Ammara is cursed: on her twenty-fifth birthday she will fall into an endless, deadly sleep, plunging the kingdom into chaos and ruin. In a last-ditch attempt to save Sarai and their people, her father arranges her marriage to Prince Balior, a handsome young noble from a neighbouring kingdom. But then the South Wind, Notus - the immortal who once had her heart - returns into her life.

Sarai is determined to ignore Notus and follow her father's plan. But Prince Balior has dark secrets, and as Sarai learns more about her betrothed, she realizes he may be her kingdom's downfall. She pulls Notus into a fake engagement, buying the pair time to investigate what Balior is really planning. And why he's so obsessed with the menacing labyrinth on the palace grounds.

Despite her distrust of her ex-lover, old feelings resurface while they team up to stop the scheming prince. As the deadly curse looms closer, Sarai must remain steadfast against the temptation of her desires. Any distraction could cost her life…and destroy her entire kingdom.

The South Wind is a brand-new standalone fantasy romance novel featuring a fake engagement and second chance romance from TikTok sensation Alexandria Warwick. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Scarlett St. Clair, and Raven Kennedy."

Sleeping Beauty and a labyrinth!?! Teenage me is sqweeing!