This story hits like a tumbleweed storm on a hot Texas day. Elsa is pushing through drought, death, and dust storms with grit sharper than broken glass—and she’s not alone. The voice is raw, saboteur-level honest, and threaded with generational hurt so thick you could carve a canyon through it. It’s quiet chaos mixed with simmering rebellion: when the South Wind hits, secrets unravel from barns to broken marriages, and suddenly survival is about more than just crops.

But let’s not pretend it’s flawless desert gold. The plot moves slow as molasses under the sun, and sometimes it felt like sand dunes shifting—same flavor, different day. A few characters are too brief, like ghost guests at a harsh family reunion. The emotional terrain runs deep, sure, but don’t expect nonstop drama or plot fireworks—it’s more a slow burn with dust and tears.

**Verdict:** A moody, atmospheric chunk of Depression-era family saga wrapped in weather and heartbreak. It’s not speedy, and it leaves you wandering through chapters like walking across scorched land. But if you crave raw family pain, dusty resilience, and the kind of story that lingers like dry wind, this one’s haunting in a whisper‑y way. Bring patience, hat, and maybe a hanky for the dust.

Though I haven't read the rest of the books in the series, I didn't feel like it hampered my reading in any way. This was pretty great and I enjoyed reading it
3.5 stars

South wind

The curse says she’ll sleep forever. The South Wind says not if he can help it… 🌬🌹

The South Wind swept me away in the best, most emotional kind of storm. This romantasy blends a Sleeping Beauty curse, Greek mythology, a fake engagement, and second-chance romance—yes, all of that—and still manages to feel intimate and beautifully personal.

Princess Sarai knows she’s cursed to die on her 25th birthday. With her kingdom on the edge of ruin and an arranged marriage looming, the last thing she expects is Notus—the immortal South Wind and the man who broke her heart—walking back into her life. He’s the only one who’s ever survived the labyrinth. He might also be the only one who can save her.

Sarai’s emotional arc hit me hard. Her journey through trauma, duty, and self-discovery felt raw and real. Notus? Brooding, loyal, and quietly heartbroken. The longing between them? Whew. I felt it. Yes, there’s miscommunication, but the payoff was worth every page.

This is book three in The Four Winds series, and while it stands alone, you’ll get the most out of it if you start with The North Wind. I loved the desert setting, the myth-inspired worldbuilding, and the soft, aching romance at the center of it all. If you’re into cursed heroines, doomed love that dares to hope again, and a bit of myth-meets-magic, don’t miss this one.

Published 5/27/25 💫
Thanks to @alexandriawarwick @sagapressbooks @netgalley #SagaSaysCrew for the gifted copy!

What's your favorite Greek myth??

#TheSouthWind #AlexandriaWarwick #RomantasyReads #BookReview #SleepingBeautyRetelling #SecondChanceRomance #GreekMythRetelling #FakeEngagementTrope #TheFourWindsSeries #Bookstagram #BookLover #CursedPrincess #MythAndMagic #SpiceAndSecrets #FantasyRomance #RomantasyVibes #NewRelease2025 #ARCReview #SagaPress #NetGalleyReviewer #thefourwinds #bookreview

A nearly perfect standalone from Warwick that truly captures the growth of her world building and writing. This was a quick and atmospheric read that follows mythology lore with a fairytale twist. Often there were places where I felt were slightly stilted but I pushed through and was so glad to land with where the story itself landed.

This is my favorite of this series so far! I absolutely loved the Arabian setting, the addition of the Minotaurs labyrinth and sleeping beauty vibes. A beautifully written world, deep characters and an amazing story with sensual spice! Can’t wait to see how the final book unfolds in The East Wind.

Not many books (that I read at least) are set in sandy climates. Most are either tropical or lush vegetation and that’s great but at the same time I can just truly envision a desert climate like the back of my hand.

Truly another wonderful story by Alexandria and I think my favorite so far!

I don't think anyone can write a retelling quite like Alexandria Warwick. The South Wind was wildly delicious and entertaining! Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney stories, and I'm quite sure I like this story better. I will not give spoilers away, but I highly recommend you don't wait on this. Read it immediately.

This is the third book in The Four Winds series and I enjoyed this even more than the first one.
The South Wind by Alexandria Warwick is the epitome of everything I want in a good romantasy: emotional depth, rich character development, and a gripping story.
If you love mythology retellings and romantasy, you’ll want to pick this one up.

I love how Alexandria Warwick writes and she sealed the deal with book #3 of The Four Winds series, The South Wind. I have LOVED this series so much. If you love second chance, curses and fake engagements, then you will feral over this one (but you need to read the first two pllleeeassse). As the others, this books world building continued to hold strong and be SO GOOD, the setting of this book is dreamy, the vivid details and the little surprises Warwick placed through the pages. I absolutely LOVED Sarai and Notus, banter great, chemistry on point, I need more of these two actually. This read was not overly spicy (just the right amount) and I think anybody who loves a great retelling would eat up this series. I will forever scoop up Alexandria’s books!

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Curses, Greek Mythology Retelling, Arranged Marriage, Second Chance, God x Mortal Match

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press

While I did enjoy this one more than the West Wind, I felt it was way too long even though it's the shortest in the series!

The South Wind is the story of Notus and Princess Sarai. We've got second chance romance, fake dating, mythical beasts, and a cute cameo. Notus left Sarai five years ago without a word but has returned to her kingdom at the word of her father the king. He is too fight off the Darkwalkers that have been plaguing their lands and of course protect the family. Sarai is pissed that he thinks he can just show back up after leaving her high and dry without a word in five years. She is under negotiations with a neighboring prince for their betrothal and eventual marriage but all isn't what it seems with this prince. When Notus discovers the prince's army resides in the city, Sarai and him team up to find out why and to plan a way to drive the prince away.

I really love the setting and the world building of The South Wind. There was so much intrigue with the curse, the Darkwalkers, the labyrinth and the beast that resides in it. But I just felt that there was too much for Sarai and Notus to overcome. Not only do they have to reveal the prince's devious plot, but they have to fight Darkwalkers that are invading their city and then they have to find a way to the kill the beast in the labyrinth and then at the end they are fighting for their lives. All while doing this they have to learn to forgive one another and fall in love again. It was just A LOT! The pace starting out fine I was entertained and wanted to keep going but towards the middle it dragged too much. I was bored and just wanted it to be over unfortunately. I really hate saying that because I want these indie turned trad authors to be successful but I definitely think this needed some good editing down.

I will continue the series but I hope it gets back to the magic of the first book. Thank you so much to Saga Press for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the north wind, and had such a fun time coming into this one! I wasn’t necessarily familiar with the retelling story it was after. But I feel like I need to go look it up now! I thought this second chance was a great and enjoyable read. I didn’t love it AS much as north wind, but it was still a really enjoyable read with an easy to keep up with world and great pacing.

I love interconnected standalones, and The South Wind was a great story that blended fantasy, romance, and mythology – with a twist on Daphne/Apollo and Sleeping Beauty. Sarai and Notus (the South Wind) presented a great second-change romance with the lovers and finding themselves reunited under surprising circumstances. This book felt authentic and was filled with high stakes emotional depth and all of my favorite tropes. I’m looking forward to the next book!

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
💜 Standalone Romantasy
🤍 Second Chance Romance
💜 Fake Engagement
🤍 Slow Burn
💜 Greek Mythology: Daphne/Apollo
🤍 Sleeping Beauty Reimagining
💜 ☠️ Cursed Heroine
🤍 Political Intrigue
💜 Trauma Healing
🤍 Forced Proximity

Thank you @sagapress and @alexandriawarwick for the free arc and @netgalley for the free e-arc 💖.

✨What it is about:
Cursed to die on her 25th birthday, Princess Sarai agrees to an arranged marriage to secure her kingdom’s future. When her dangerous fiancé reveals dark secrets, she turns to her ex-lover, the god of the South Wind, for help.✨

💭My thoughts:
This is the third book in the Four Winds series by Alexandria Warwick, inspired by Sleeping Beauty and the Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo. In this one get to meet the third immortal brother of the series, Notus (the South Wind).
While this was a good read, it took a little while for me to feel fully invested in the story. I felt the beginning was a little slow, but once I was in, I was hooked.
Though a little frustrating at times, I liked Sarai’s character. She was strong, passionate, and real. Even though she struggled with feeling like she wasn’t enough, she owned it, and even though she wasn’t a skilled fighter, she wasn’t a damsel in distress either which I liked.
The tension between her and Notus was palpable, and the yearning felt so real. There were lots of secrets and interesting elements, like the use of music, that really caught my attention. That said, toward the end, I felt a bit confused and was left with some questions. I might just have to go back and re-read some parts to hopefully clear those up. I liked how the fourth brother, the East Wind was introduced, and I can’t wait to learn more about him in the next book in the series.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
⬇️Sleeping Beauty
⬇️Arranged marriage
⬇️Second chance romance
⬇️Fake engagement
⬇️Complex family dynamics
⬇️Fantasy romance

⚠️CW: Death of a parent, suicide, sexual content.

The South Wind by Alexandria Warwick is the third book in a four book interconnected standalone series. It means you can read them in any order. This book is a step up from book two. If you read the North Wind and liked it, I suggest reading The South Wind. The South Wind is a romantic fantasy, it is a story inspired by Apollo and Daphne, and yes, in this story our MMC, Notus, yearns for Sarai. Sarai is also cursed to die on her 25th name day something she hides from everyone, especially Notus. Notus also has a secret so miscommunication/lack of communication is key to this story. I really like Sarai, she is a strong woman and she fights for what she wants. Her father has arranged for her to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom, Prince Balinor. But, Sarai has concerns about him and what she is learning, so she claims a fake engagement with Notus. I enjoyed this read and I gave it 3.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and Saga Press for my e-arc. This book is out Tuesday, May 27th.

This. Book. Is. Beautiful. I have been a fan of this series since it began with The North Wind. While I have enjoyed them all very much --North more than West (the theme was just more gripping for me)-- this one comes in at a solid second, just behind North. The themes in The South Wind (music as artistry and the second chance romance) spoke to me. I was simply in love with all of it. Also, I cannot WAIT to receive my Once Upon a Book box special edition.

The South Wind follows Princess Sarai, who is cursed to die on her 25th birthday. In an effort to save her kingdom, her father plans to have her marry a prince from another land, but then her first love, The South Wind, shows up again. While there were parts of this story I really enjoyed, this is my least favorite of the 3 in the series so far.

I really liked Princess Sarai and The South Wind, also known as Notus. Second chance romance can be hard, and despite some miscommunication based on Sarai jumping to conclusions, this was well done in my opinion. I also liked how music was infused throughout the story. Where I struggled was in the length of this novel and some of the decisions made my characters that didn't quite feel in line with who they were portrayed to be. There's a lot of court intrigue, which I love, but it didn't quite feel complete here. While these books are set up to be standalones, I'm left with a lot of questions regarding Prince Balior, the Darkwalkers, the Labyrinth, and what's next for Ammara. I am looking forward to book 4!

Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. I wanted to read this book as it was described of having a Sleeping Beauty inspiration. I love the tale of Sleeping beauty with a greek twist to it. I love the author's previous work in The Four Winds series and this is no exception. This book can be read as a standalone and do not need to read The North Wind or The West Wind in order to enjoy this read. If you enjoy reading about princesses who are cursed, fake engagements, and mythology, this book is for you.

Thank you to @sagapressbooks and @alexandriawarwick for this ARC.

Ever since I read The North Wind, I’ve been obsessed with this series by Warwick. Book 2 didn’t resonate with me, but The South Wind? It completely lived up to my expectations from Book 1. 🤩🖤

🏝️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭?
Warwick truly infused The South Wind with her love of music and how navigating grief and family obligations can strip someone of their own self. Watching Sarai rediscover who she is and choose her path was so satisfying.

And the world? I fell in love with it all over again. From city politics to shady creatures and a labyrinth that gave serious ✨don’t go in there✨ energy, the worldbuilding felt immersive without being overcomplicated.

🏝️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
💨 Magic and curses
🖤 Political intrigue
🎻 Musical, grieving FMC
💕 Second chance love

🏝️ 𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫?
Nope! Each book stands on its own, though characters from The North Wind appear here.

🔥 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: Open door

🏝️ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞?
Absolutely delicious. Notus and Sarai’s second-chance romance had me swooning. Their banter, chemistry, and emotional tension felt deep and earned. This wasn’t about instant attraction; it was about rediscovering love after loss. 💘

🏝️ 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
100% yes. This book reignited my love for romantasy. The plot, world, and romance worked together so beautifully. I’m counting down the days for Book 4. 🙌

🏝️ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟:
📚 The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
📚 To Bleed a Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker
📚 The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

🏝️ 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐝: 🎶 Soulful | 🌪️ Wounded-but-resilient | 💥 Hopeful

🏝️ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
🌿 Lush, immersive worldbuilding
🔥 Slow-burn second chance romance
🎼 Emotionally driven heroines
🔮 Romantasies with real depth

My favorite part about The South Wind was how immersed I felt in the world. Every time I picked it up, I felt like I was IN the sand dunes in the desert of Amara. I live for the world building!
Our FMC Sarai was prickly and strong, as one must be with a secret Sleeping Beauty-like ticking clock over your head. Notus is everything you expect from a banished god: stoic, gentle but strong, and I loved waiting to see him cracked open by Sarai. I could have done without so many secrets and miscommunications between them, but where would there story be without?
A bit of political intrigue, beautiful writing style, a few plot holes I was willing to overlook, an ill-fated journey into the desert together, and an ending wrap up that i loved!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️/5

This book was a unique, emotional second chance fantasy romance. I thought the depiction of grief was done so well and the details surrounding the importance of music in our characters’ lives.

The journey Sarai takes through this book is special - from self-doubt and unworthiness to acceptance and love, I loved getting her introspection throughout.

Second chance can be difficult with miscommunication, and that was the case here. Conversations could have been had to avoid some of the issues that our characters had.

Thank you to Saga Press and the author for a chance to read this prior to release!