'Hello, Sarai. Won't you step into the dark?'

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

I really, really enjoyed The South Wind.

This book was pure romantasy escapism, and I devoured it. The setting was so vivid, and the characters buried their way into my heart very quickly.

I loved strong, passionate Sarai, and how she navigated her struggles of not feeling like she was enough for her family, and like she would never live up to the weight of the expectations placed upon her. I loved how she acknowledged she was not a natural fighter early in the book, but this did not make her any less strong. In a world of fantasy FMCs who are exceptionally talented when it comes to fighting, it was refreshing to have a character who didn't naturally have these abilities and had to use other tactics to get out of trouble, without making her passive or weak. I did think occasionally she veered into too much complaining when it came to her internal dialogue, but honestly, girl, same. I can't judge her for that.

The tension between Notus and Sarai was perfect, and while I'm not normally a huge fan of second chance romance stories, this one was told really well, I thought. The yearning was so strong from both characters, and I loved how their past was seamlessly intertwined with how their relationship was starting to re-form in the present.

I am really enjoying The Four Winds series, and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest review.

My least favourite of the series so far, a slow burn second chance romance in a desert city between Princess Sarai of Ammara and Notus, the South Wind.

Not as emotive as the previous two, I wasn't as invested in the plot or character tension and the age old "protagonists should have just communicated" trope is heavy handed

I enjoyed the cameo.

The South Wind Arc
Before I start this review, I would like to thank and give my gratitude to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster AU for allowing me to read this arc as I have loved reading the first two books by Alexandria Warwick. Being able to read the arc of the South Wind was truly an amazing experience as this was also my first arc read.
Now for the review!
After a lot of consideration and thought, I settled on giving The South Wind a 3.5/5 stars. The story follows Princess Sarai as she both tackle with her internal dilemmas and the rumors of darkness in her kingdom. While dealing with these complicated emotions, she also has to do what she believes is right for her kingdom. This leads to her being considering the solution of an arranged marriage with a prince. However its not that easy. Not only is there conflicting emotions to her intended but also her ex Notus or better known as the South Wind coming back into her life, thanks to her Father. Sarai now has to deal with her undealt emotions towards him and the untrust forming between her and the prince. This untrust results into a new arrangement. Notus and Sarai work together with their arrangement or in other words, their fake engagement, to unravel the secrets the prince has and stop the darkness that lurks within their kingdom.
The South Wind is a fake engagement, second chance, romantasy and is apart of an interconnected standalone. I was very conflicted while reading this book as there were so many aspects I loves about the story, however there were a few parts that made the experience a little more difficult.
I loved, as always, the world Alexandria Warwick, created with her writing style. I loved the journey and places Sarai and Notus visited through the book. It made me feel very attached to the book with the good use of visual descriptions. The plot was also something that had me hooked from the very first pages. I wanted to know what happened and I was constantly kept on my toes. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it which isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Then there was the character growth in Sarai. Although some of the decisions she made were questionable, I could see the emotions in her and the battle she was facing with both herself and her impending death. The emotions were very real and understandable for someone in her situation.
What I found frustrating about the book was the miscommunication between Sarai and Notus. I felt like they were arguing about the same thing over and over while not striving to forgive or even listen to what the other has to say. I didn’t know what to expect from them but as the miscommunication was drawn out, the less flame and chemistry I saw in them. This made me feel less enjoyment in the happier moments between the two.
Despite this, the mystery in the plot kept me enthralled and I was satisfied with the ending of the book. Choices were made that I could accept and respect the characters for rebuilding my love for them.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and although parts of the book resulted in the lower rating, I would still recommend this book to those who have read the first two books or even if you want a unique storyline with unpredictable plot and dark twists and turns.

Absolutely loved this book from start to finish! I was immediately drawn in, and The South Wind may just be one of my all-time favorite MMCs. He was just PERFECT! 🥵

The writing in this series always transports me straight into the world, but this book took it to a whole new level. I usually struggle to visualize fantasy settings, but with this one, I could see everything so clearly - it felt like I was there. The South Wind was the most immersive book I’ve read for quite some time.

As a lover of Sleeping Beauty, I was already excited knowing this story was inspired by it and it delivered in every way. I’m also not typically a fan of second chance romances, but this one was incredibly well done. It didn’t feel forced or added in just for the sake of drama. It made sense, added depth, and flowed beautifully with the rest of the plot.

I’m genuinely sad it’s over and already counting down the days until the next book! 💗

*3.5 stars*

*Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing a digital copy to review*

Fairy tales and Greek Mythology are two of my special interests, and when I see a book take inspiration from them, I get excited. And when they happen to be my favourite fairy tale (Sleeping Beauty) and myth (Theseus and the Minotaur), I couldn’t wait to see how they worked together.

I still have yet to read The North Wind but I have read The West Wind, and so far I think Notus is my favourite of the brothers. While he made a mistake which hurt Sarai greatly, he comes back to her and does all he can to help her. Sarai, on the other hand, annoyed me greatly. Yes, she got hurt, but she really needed to just talk to Notus. I hate the miscommunication trope with a passion, and Sarai’s stubbornness just made it worse.

This is a second-chance romance, and at times, I did feel a bit lost with Notus and Sarai’s relationship as we don’t really learn much about when they were together until later on. It made it harder for me to get invested in their relationship.

Family trauma is a prevalent theme in this book, with Sarai and her brothers trying to live up to their father’s expectations. Sarai conforms herself to be the ‘perfect’ princess, pushing her wants and interests aside. The events in this book, including her relationship with Notus, allow Sarai to develop greatly as a character, which I enjoyed reading.

I loved the elements taken from the myth and fairy tale, and how they linked together. These elements felt so familiar, and it was interesting seeing them adapted in this book.

Firstly, thank you so much Netgalley and also Simon & Schuster AU for the opportunity to read this ARC! This was such a dream opportunity as a fan of Alexandria Warwick. The following will be my review:

The South Wind was a Solid 3.5/5⭐️ that follows Princess Sarai as she navigates her last days, leading up to her 25th Birthday where she is destined to no longer live due to her for told curse. Sarai, carrying the weight of her kingdoms burdens, grief and anxiety for the future - attempts to heal these concerns through an Arranged Marriage to a Prince who can help her people. However, with her Ex - Notus the South Wind re-appearing in her life as a Kings Guard in request of her Father, Sarai must deal with her previous feelings coming to the surface. Not to mention that he is now her Betrothed as they come into agreement of a Fake Engagement to discover the truths behind Prince Bailors intentions.

The South Wind was an interesting read as a continuation in the standalone series, truthfully speaking it was hard to evaluate my thoughts on this book. To unpack it, I’ll start with the obvious being Ms Alexandria Warwick never fails to stick to her beautiful writing style. She always knows how to teleport you into the world she has carved from her imagination and make it feel as magical as can be, because of that I had no trouble falling in love with the setting getting to know the characters and finding interest within the plot. While the writing while intricate, detailed and beautifully conveyed did feel dragged on at times as sometimes we focused too much on details, that repetition occurred which I found to be the hardest part of consuming the storyline - including how it made the relationship between Notus and Sarai feel push and pull with the miscommunication trope a bit too much and dragged the book along many of the time.

However, I do see the direction she was going and respect the leap she has taken because there are deeper themes explored such as Sarai’s deep grief, regrets and fear for her life and her loved ones. I think this is what made her such a strong character; because she was afraid and emotional. She was completely laid bare and burdened in so many aspects - which is where her relationship with Notus really acts as a glue to mend her when she calls for it. While Notus and Sarai take a long time to get passed their up and downs because both aren’t the best communicators due to putting everyone else above their own needs, they balance each other when they finally do come together, including the external factors that come between them.

Over all, it was well done and I still do look forward to reading about The East Wind when the time comes. The positives do out weigh the bad, so this is by no means a bad review - rather I hope anyone who read’s this see’s it as a maybe because this is coming from a personal opinion where my favourite from this author is The North Wind and I can 100% vouch for this author and her writing. Being that it is a maybe, I hope to convey that my interpretation of this story could look different to you - so I still encourage you to have a go and find out if it’s your dream book!

I’m going to preface this review by saying I absolutely loved the first two books and I may have overhyped this in my head, but this one was rather disappointing.

The South Wind felt like Sarai complaining for 70% then I was like finally the Labyrinth and then it was just learning about her childhood and not a lot else???

The North Wind and The West Wind both had great plot that was driven by the characters and actions. This really lacked any action driven plot. I was pretty bored the entire time.

Alexandria Warwicks writing style definitely saved this from being a DNF for me. I love how she uses language to create gorgeous imagery and such visceral emotion.

I’m really hoping the East Wind is as brooding and mischievous as he is made out to be in his introduction in this story so I’m looking forward to that.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.

I loved north wind. It was one of my favourite reads when I got the arc. But this one. This one's MC is annoying which made it so hard for me to care about her or what was going on. I really was hoping this one would do better then west wing but it really wasn't.

Princess Sarai, one of King Halim of Ammara’s three children, has three months until her twenty-fifth nameday – upon which she believes she is cursed to die. The king is unwell, her older brother who was always meant to take the throne is dead, and her remaining brother is recently married and preparing to take a throne her was never meant to sit on. The kingdom is under threat from the darkwalkers, and King Halim has arranged a marriage for Princess Sarai with Prince Balior from the neighbouring kingdom of Um Salim – a marriage he believes is one of Ammara’s last chances against the darkwalkers. While Sarai begins with the intent to honour her father’s wishes, she soon starts to feel that Prince Balior is hiding things that could have a devastating effect on Ammara. To prevent the betrothal with Prince Balior from moving forwards, Sarai fakes an engagement with the South Wind – god of the desert wind and her ex-lover – in order to buy time to expose the motives of those around her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to people far and wide. I love the tropes of second chance and fake engagement and thought this was a refreshing approach to a retelling with touches of both Sleeping Beauty and Greek mythology. I particularly liked that while Princess Sarai was not portrayed as a damsel in distress, she also wasn’t an expert swordsman or fighter. It took me a little bit to really get into this book, but the start was needed for context around the different relationships that existed within the story. The only relationship that I got briefly confused about at one stage was that between Sarai and the South Wind – at the beginning of the story it feels like they were together for some time, but later on it is suggested that that was not the case at all.
I really liked the way in which the East Wind was introduced ahead of the final book, but without being out of place in this story. The connections between the brothers – the four winds – ties the books together nicely, which still allowing each to be read as a standalone. From what we saw of the East Wind in this book I am very excited to read more about his story in the next instalment.
A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster (Australia) and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The South Wind in exchange for my honest review.

‘The child was born into silence. Initially the midwife believed her to be stillborn.’

The third instalment in Ms Warwick’s Four Winds series is inspired by both the Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo and the fairytale Sleeping Beauty. And yes, I really enjoyed it. I have only just finished reading ‘The West Wind’ and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as ‘The North Wind’, I am hooked on this series.

This fantasy story takes us to the kingdom of Ammara, where Princess Sarai believes that she has less than three months to live. She is cursed, she believes, to die on her twenty-fifth nameday. Her father, the king, is ill. Her older brother, the heir, is dead. Her remaining brother, recently married, is preparing for rule. But the kingdom is under threat, and the king has arranged a marriage for Sarai to Prince Balior, from a neighbouring kingdom.

But … Sarai has feelings for Notus, the South Wind, whom her father has invited back to Ammara to help protect Sarai against the evil of the Darkwalkers. Sarai and Notus were previously lovers and while she has not forgiven him for leaving her, she announces a fake engagement to him when she has reason to question Prince Balior’s motives.

The scene is set for a fast-moving fantasy romance which involves several different quests as well as great danger posed by both the Darkwalkers and the horrors of the labryrinth within the place grounds.

The heroism of both Sarai and Notus held my attention, as did the several quests that Sarai undertakes in search of self-knowledge and truth. And, of course, both Sarai and Notus have kept secrets from each other which may have made life so much easier had they been shared.

And now I wait, patiently, for ‘The East Wind’: the final book in this series.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I've heard a lot about this series and was eager to read it, so I jumped in with this book. I'd probably recommend starting from Book 1 though as I felt like I was missing a lot about the world and the four winds at the beginning. I liked the tropes in this one; second chance, fake engagement and the Greek myth inspiration which is why I started with this one. I liked it a lot but I didn't love it. I feel like there could have been more chemistry between the main characters and it took me quite a while to get into the story. I liked the unique setting and the names were interesting and not ones I'd come across before in a fantasy novel.

Ooh I think this might be my second favourite of the series so far after The North Wind. I loved the combination of sleeping beauty and the Minotaur. I love that each book in this series so far explores a different realm and the world building has been fantastic allowing you to truly picture it all. I loved that this was a second chance romance between Notus and Sarai who had both been through a lot in their journeys, Sarai especially. I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion to this series.

I really enjoyed the start of this story, but increasingly felt like the pacing of the central plot was off (not the romance).

The writing itself is good, Sarai and Notus feel like real fleshed out characters to me and I think I would have enjoyed their story more without the backstory not hitting the right notes. The relationship with Sarai's father, the Prince (who by the way turning into a dastardly pervert at first opportunity made his character much less interesting), the curse and the labyrinth felt a bit convoluted in the background.

I still absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the previous entries, the writing style is nice, the central plot couple are well written. I just had difficulty with the scope of the fantasy feeling disjointed.

Nothing beats a sleeping beauty retelling through Greek mythology. I have enjoyed the first two books and this one didn’t disappoint

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 South Wind
💫💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed the Four Wind series so far. North Wind was amazing, West Wind dropped the ball a little but South Wind has me thinking that this series will tie up nicely.

This book follows Sarai and Notus, former lovers that are forced back together per the Kings (Sarai's fathers) request. There is a threat on the horizon, Darkwalkers and therefore an arranged marriage to the neighbouring kingdom is the logical solution to gain power and protection. Oh course Sarai see something that has her questioning her betrothed intentions and instead of plotting to take the unknown threat down, she decides to announce that she has accepted a proposal from Notus. The man she is frigid towards but he still yearns for her.

A dangerous game of 'its a fake engagement' begins but feelings start to get meddled up and we all know where this story will end.

I really enjoy Alexandria's writing and I could get the Daphne and Apollo vibes from this story. There is a miscommunication trope but I would name it more 'I have kept secrets for a reason and that reason is actually valid but I still should've told you sooner'. I actually did not mind it, normally I get frustrated and start yelling at the characters.

We got a little snipet of East Wind and his story is the one I've been waiting for!

The South Wind is a great new instalment in a new series.

In the south wind we follow Sarai, a princess cursed to die on her 25th name day. Sarai’s curse has also cursed her kingdom and she is willing to submit to an arranged marriage in order to leave her kingdom in the hands of a scholar prince who may be able to find the cure. However, when the south wind, the immortal who broke her heart reappears in the palace and the prince’s motives for marrying her are called into question, Serai has to trust Notus (the south wind) to help her break the curse herself!

What I loved:
- Sarai, it was so refreshing to have a brave and mature character who isn’t a master swordsman but is never portrayed as a damsel in distress.
- The fairytale vibes, this one has a touch of sleeping beauty and the myth of Midas and the Minotaur which are woven into the story beautifully.
- The world building, this has been done so well throughout the series and the word continues to be intriguing in this installment.

What could be better:
- There were times when the pacing of the story dragged a little and I think the overall story could have been made shorter to keep the plot progressing.

Overall, I had a great time reading this and can’t wait to read the East wind.

Thank you to Netgallery and Simon and Schuster Australia for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Fantasy romance, immortal gods, curses, labyrinths… and a whole lot of emotional repression.

It’s been a while since I read The West Wind, but I had no trouble diving back into this world for book three. While The South Wind can likely be read as a standalone, I suspect that having the context of the first two books would help with understanding the broader mythology and character dynamics.

The Setup: Love, Betrayal, and… a Bakery?

This instalment follows Notus, the immortal god of the south wind, and Princess Sarai, his former lover who once adored him—until he abandoned her when she needed him most. Now, Sarai is navigating a dangerous courtship, a looming curse, and the ever-present threat of dark walkers infiltrating her home and the beast that lurks beneath her city. Notus, meanwhile, is meant to be protecting her, but their unresolved history makes things… complicated.

Very complicated.

Because instead of just talking about their very obvious issues, they do the classic dance of longing, miscommunication, and unnecessary angst. The chemistry is there, but so is the frustration of watching two people tie themselves in emotional knots rather than just being honest. There’s a time for romantic tension, and then there’s a time to stop being dramatic and just say the thing.


The Romance vs. The Plot: A Clash of Elements

One of my main struggles with this book was that the fantasy and romance didn’t always blend seamlessly. There’s a certain tonal whiplash in seeing an all-powerful, immortal god casually strolling to a bakery with his ex-girlfriend while simultaneously holding dominion over the desert winds. The stakes are high—there’s a labyrinth, a deadly curse, and a powerful force dictating the fate of the kingdom—but somehow, those stakes get a bit muddled beneath the weight of the plot.


I think part of the issue is that so much is happening. Elements of Sleeping Beauty and the Minotaur myth are woven into the storyline, but the sheer volume of worldbuilding and drama made it difficult to fully engage with the romance, which is meant to be at the heart of the book. In previous instalments, the romantic tension took centre stage in a way that worked. Here, it felt like it was competing with everything else.


The Verdict: Just Not for Me

I expected to love this one because I really enjoyed The North Wind and The West Wind. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with The South Wind. That said, if you love intricate plots, second-chance romance, and characters who take a lot of time before they reach emotional intelligence, there’s still something here to enjoy. It just didn’t quite work for me.

Sadly, 2.5 stars from me.


ARC provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The South Wind by Alexandria Warwick is a fantasy romance filled with curses, palace intrigue, and second-chance love. Princess Sarai, doomed to fall into an eternal sleep on her twenty-fifth birthday, agrees to an arranged marriage to secure her kingdom. But when Notus—the South Wind and her former love—returns, old feelings resurface, and a dangerous game begins.

With echoes of Sleeping Beauty and Greek mythology, this story delivers romance, tension, and a labyrinth of secrets. If you love slow-burn, political scheming, and beautifully woven fantasy, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

The South Wind is a beautifully crafted fantasy romance. Though it’s the third book in The Four Winds series, it can be read as a standalone. To be fair, I have read the North Wind and the West Wind previously, but I have no doubt that new readers will be able to jump into this series right away.
Warwick’s writing is immersive and full of stunning imagery.

The pacing starts off slow, but once the stakes rise, I couldn’t put the book down. The romance between Sarai and Notus is filled with tension, longing, and second chances. It’s frustrating at times, but in a way that makes their eventual moments of connection feel even more rewarding. And while the fake engagement trope isn’t new, Warwick uses it well, adding layers of intrigue and emotion that make it feel fresh.

This book left me emotional in the best way, and I already know it’ll stick with me for a long time.

Ohhh, lovers of Sleeping Beauty mixed with Aladdin type vibes, this book is for you! This book reminds me alot of The North Wind, the first book of the series - arranged marriages, an absolute baddy MFC and a brooding type MMC. I ate this read up in 1 day! I could not put it down! There is definitely a theme amongst all three books with the endings, this one being another slow burn romance, but you'll have to read to the end of all 3 books to appreciate what keeps happening. I love how interconnected these books become at their endings, and this makes me so curious for the next installment! 😍