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! 😍

I really enjoy this series. One of my favourite parts is definitely the fact that even though the books are linked by the brothers, each story is completely different.

The south wind has a little bit of a sleeping beauty and the Minotaur and the labyrinth mixed in with the story but it isn’t enough to make it feel like a retelling. It’s just a really enjoyable read. I will be buying it for my bookshelf when it is finally released..