As a child of the 80's one of my all time favorite movies (and we're talking still to this day) is "Labyrinth." This book, to me at least, is extremely reminiscent of that film and, honestly, I am a-ok with that! Did I think it was as great as my favorite movie? Well no, of course not. There's a reason why it's my favorite movie. That being said, I am excited that a new generation will have an opportunity to enjoy a similar story. One that is, maybe, a bit more modern fairy tale. One that will speak to them. And while I can't give this all the stars because the Goblin King of "Wintersong" is no David Bowie, I do appreciate that the author was able to take a familiar story for those 80's kids and make it completely her own. Complete with storytelling that is compelling, characters who are interesting and pacing that will keep teens reading. A definite must for all YA collections.

This lyrical tale is filled with aspects of Greek mythology, sacrifice, love, loss, and classical music. Elizabeth is a strong protagonist who doesn't fall into insta-love, but is passionate in a time where women were discouraged from realizing their true potential. A good read and hopefully there will be a sequel as the author has stated via social media.

3.5 stars

When I picked this book up, I had already heard some pretty amazing things about it, so I had high hopes!

I have to admit that I have incredibly mixed feelings about this book right now, even days after finishing it.

Elizabeth… or Liesl as her friends and family call her has always been the plain one in the family… the responsible one taking care of her younger brother and sister and putting her hopes and dreams to the side to make sure they are happy. Kathe is everything she is not… beautiful and curvy and fun and her brother Josef is a musical genius and his talent lies in the violin. Liesl herself is an accomplished composer but only Josef knows… and the Goblin King.

Everyone has heard the tales of The Goblin King. He’s the Lord of Mischief and Ruler of the Underground and as Liesl quickly realizes, he’s also the boy she played with in the woods near her home when she was younger. When Kathe is taken by the Goblin King to the Underground, Liesl will do anything for her freedom… even sacrifice herself. There is a reason that the Goblin King has been trying to get Liesl to agree to marrying him, and there is a price to Liesl if she says yes.

Like I said, my feelings were really mixed about this… on the one hand, I really loved the story-telling. The writing is just gorgeous and the magical and fantastical aspects were really interesting but not so complex that they were hard to follow. There are goblins and changelings and deal-making and magic throughout and I was so intrigued by all of it.

I think where my mixed feelings come for this is with the pacing of the story, and the retelling itself. It’s my understanding that the bones of this story come from Labyrinth, which I have never seen, so I didn’t have that to use as any kind of guide to what was coming but you could tell that it was a retelling because there were elements from other stories as well. I felt that the beginning had a bit of a slow start so struggled to really immerse myself, and then suddenly a ton of things were happening and it was kind of hard to keep up with all the twists.

I was also kind of meh about the romance here. Jae-Jones does a great job building the tension between these two but it sort of just kind of fizzled for me when they were finally together. We had this great build-up for them, but then it just did nothing for me. I wanted more passion, and less of the miscommunication and arguing that seemed to be what we got most of. There are a couple somewhat sexy scenes in this one though that definitely place this read in the upper YA age range, but I wasn’t as convinced that there was this amazing connection between them. I also feel like we didn’t really get to know much about The Goblin King. I never felt like we heard much about his story and his history and why he was so sure that Liesl had to be his wife.

Which brings me to the end of this book… this so did not work for me. I felt like once Liesl was down in the Underground, they are just sort of living life and composing music and eating dinner together and blah blah blah… I just didn’t get the point… what part of the story was I supposed to be invested in here, and then suddenly, Liesl has to make a decision that will change everything and then the story is done. And when it was done, my immediate reaction was … THIS IS IT? Where is the rest of the story? Why does this feel unfinished? Is there a sequel and when is it coming?

So yes, overall, I wanted to love this more than I did… but there were parts that were just wonderfully done and if you’re on the fence about picking it up, I suggest giving it a try. With beautiful writing and fantastic world-building I’m excited about the closure that I hope book 2 will give me!

Blog: https://bookishdiana.wordpress.com/2017/02/24/wintersong-book-review/
Blog post Published: 2/23/2017

“I looked him straight in the eye. "What was it your father used to say?" Hans said nothing. He turned his head away. "What's the use of running, if we are on the wrong road?”

So I went into this book with no expectations , I went in thinking "Hey if its at least a 3 out of 5 stars it will be okay" but WOW this book exceeded my expectations on so many levels. So i had never even heard heard/seen Labyrinth(oops). This book is a piece of art, it masterfully and delicately planned out and written. I was blow away from the very first sentence. The first chapter or so was pure genius, it was so beautifully written and draws you into the story, you just can't hold back.

It was dark, beautiful, poetic, romantic, and sexy and every way.

“Once there was a little girl who played her music for a little boy in the wood.”

So basically its about a girl who played music for a little boy, she completely(or did she) forgot about the boy. Yet the boy never forgot her. She continued her life and continued to grow up and change. She composed her music being in the shadows of the flame(her brother and sister), desire for greatness, and attention. (Remember the boy) Well he waited for, like he waited a long time for her in his depressing and gloomy world. He eventually grew impatient and then decided to kidnap her sister(interested now? things now got interesting) They soon go through going from strangers, to enemies to lovers but you know from the beginning that there story didn't deserve a happy ending or you knew it wasn't going to happen.



Liesl (the girl) starts like a sweet lullaby, starts out slowly and then grasps you into the story. It gives you the nostalgia feeling

Overall Liesl wasn't the typical beautiful jaw dropping beauty who everyone thought was beautiful, however it was slightly over emphasized a bit.

The Goblin King was your typical swoon worthy boy that you absolutely fall in love with the moment you meet him. I'm still not sure I love him, but he was by far my favorite character. His character broke me in so many ways. He's the most interesting and intriguing character and I wanted to get more from him.

Also before I forget to mention, there is a clear division in the book, it kinda felt like 2 different stories kinda interwoven in the strangest wave. The beginning felt like a chase and game it was wild and beautifully written. While the second half gave you kind of a feeling of a soft spoken lullaby, giving all of your feels and emotion of the aftermath of the beginning.

The main reason I dropped a star was because of the fact the ending didn't feel like an ending. The story just kinda stopped. I didn't feel satisfied, and honestly I grieved because of the ending. It left me with too many questions and just left so many questions unanswered. It kinda felt like someone just shut the book in my face, and then burned all the other copies. It just felt so dis attached..............

Recommended for mature readers

This was one of those books that we both felt pretty neutral on because while it had pretty prose with vivid descriptions that transported us into the world, it left us wanting a lot more. This felt over before it really began and had us wishing the pace slowed down so we could savour the story, the relationships, and the world just a bit more.

While every story is a copy of a copy of a copy, and WINTERSONG is technically a retelling, this story felt like nothing new. It was too easy to compare this one to others that have come before it and realize that these books did things so much better than this. It was too easy, too predictable, and too similar to dozens of other stories that have the same basic plot line.

However, the musical aspects were really interesting and I loved to see how it was incorporated into the plot itself and that it was deemed part of the magic system as this made me really happy. In relation to this, the magic worldbuilding was incredible but definitely not used as much as it could have been.

I was disappointed with the quickness of all the relationships as it felt as though things happened too quickly. I was hoping for a magical journey but it felt as though everything started and stopped too quickly without me really getting to be immersed.

This is definitely a check out from the library or a pass from me. Or just watch the movie Labyrinth. Either or will work fine.

DNF at 14%

Unfortunately, I could not finish this novel. I tried, I have been trying for months, but I could not connect with the characters or the writing.

The premise was interesting and is the central reason as to why I wanted to read this novel in the first place. I thoroughly enjoyed the inclusion of music and music prodigies. I was fascinated by the temptation of the Goblin King and was looking forward to fully meeting him in the novel, but I could not get past the protagonist.

Leisl is a tragic excuse for a protagonist. Jae-Jones may have been able to get away with her maybe even 5 years ago when YA fiction was all about tragic romances and women not having an opinion, but this is 2017 and YA fiction has improved so much that I have become a powerful advocate for it. Leisl's character may have gone through a significant character development, but I do not have the patience for novels like that. She has no backbone and constantly shames her sister, while simultaneously comparing herself to Kathe. I abhor novels that pit young women against each other for no apparent reason and I could already pick apart a few occasions of this in the first 5% of the novels. This set off major alarms bells for me.

I can't sit there and read a novel where the protagonist frequently engages in self-deprecating discourse, which is only utilised to make the reader empathise with her and despise her sister. Like I said, if this were 5 years ago, Wintersong would have been a hit. But this isn't 5 years ago. We're in a world were young women see the value in themselves and want novels that feature that too. Some books in the YA genre need to catch up. It's disappointing.

I'm disappointed. I fully expected to like - perhaps even love - this novel. The premise sounds fantastic. But I can't stomach protagonists such as Leisl.

The writing was very touch and go. There were many moments I was blown away by the beautiful paragraphs, and other times I found the sentences plain cheesy.

I did not enjoy Wintersong and I was not able to finish it. I usually give books at least a 100 page chance to immerse me into the novel, before I decide to DNF, but this year I've decided that poor quality books are not worth my time.

Wintersong: 5/5
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I'm SUPER excited about this book and I'm so happy that it's officially out in the world now! I read it last fall and have been dying for more ever since! I can't wait for you all to read and I highly highly recommend it to everyone!
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Wintersong follows Liesl, a nineteen year old gifted composer. When her sister is kidnapped by the Goblin King--the mysterious and beautiful Lord of Mischief and Ruler Underground--Liesl makes a dangerous bargain with him. To free her sister, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King, which he accepts. Spirited away into the Underground as the Goblin King's new bride, Liesl will learn that the price she paid was perhaps much higher than she first believed
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I absolutely LOVED this book and I am completely obsessed with it! JJ's writing is beautiful and fluid and though it takes place in a German-inspired world, it feels so fresh and new! It felt very much like East by Edith Pattou meets Phantom of the Opera, with a dash of the Hades and Persephone myth! (And as a HUUUUUGE fan of Phantom, this book was 😍😍😍😍😍😍! Pure gold!)
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It was a book that sucked me in right from the beginning and had I not had work and other duties, I would have read it in one setting! Wintersong is incredibly compelling with beautiful, luscious writing (i.e. *THE* best possible combination a reader could ever ask for!) I cannot recommend this book enough! It's perfect for fans of ACOTAR and The Star-Touched Queen, so if you liked either of those book, I very much suggest you try Wintersong!
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Thank you so much to @griffinteen for sending me a copy of Wintersong and I really do hope you guys give this book a try! (Also I hope my review made sense, because I think it wasn't so much a review as it was incoherent flailing 😳... 😂😂😂) Can't wait to go out and buy my hard copy!!!

I really loved this story even though I know it's a bit problematic. The sacrifices that the main character is willing to make and the misery she puts herself through are unfortunately not signs of a great relationship. I did appreciate the unhappy ending.

Ok, so I must say I was't sure what to expect when I heard about this book. I had never heard of the movie The Labryinth and so th entire concept of The Goblin King was a new experience for me. I wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea, but paired with JJ's writing and her amaznig characterization, I knew it would be right up my alley!
Liesel has heard the story of the goblin king from her family for many years. They tried to warn her about him, but as she grew older, the magic of the tale became lost on her. She no longer believed. Until her sister is one day taken by thee same goblins she came to stop believing in. The goblins decide to let her sister go with a price... Liesel. And she readily agrees.
THe number one thing I LOVED about this book was the characters. I really felt like Liesel was so brave and though her sister didn't think anything through, she was amazingly written as well. As a character driven reader I was completely invested in trying to find out more about what happened to them. Which is one reason I didn't give this the full 5 stars. I was hoping for more background on the goblin's tale (as I said, I haven't seen The Lbaryinth) and it was missing in the story. For those like me, I wished it was there to give it a little more background.
Then there was the writing style. I mean, are we SURE that JJ is a debut author? Because her writing style proves she's been doing this for a LONG time lol Everytime I cracked open this book I was sucked to a completely different place. The imagery in this book is EVERYTHING. The way I was transported underground and the market and every other place this book took me is something I look for in everey book I read (Hence the name Take Me Away!) so, in short, it definitely delivered.
Last but not least, let us not forget the romance. HOLY SMOKES. There was a point in time when I had to question whether or not this was NA or YA. In other words, I loved it haha I don't want to go into more detail, BUT I will say that this romance, gave me all the feels, both good and bad, and I can't wait for everyone to finally meet the character tomorrow!

2.5 Stars

WINTERSONG is a story of the Goblin King and the woman he seeks as his bride. It's based on the German folklore of the Erlkönig, but told in such a way to make this tale uniquely the author's own. Full of history and a dark fantastical underworld, readers who enjoy faeries, retellings, and similar stories of death taking a bride may enjoy this one.

This story started off so well. I loved the way I felt immersed in the culture and historical setting. I liked the characters and the mystery surrounding Der Erlkönig (the Goblin King) and the traditions passed down by Liesl's grandmother. I also liked parts of the story, which felt very faeish and the bond between Liesl and her siblings, even though parts were strained. The writing was well done overall and very beautiful in places. I also liked the sweet moments between the Goblin King and Liesl. You get these glimpses throughout the story of the relationship they could have. Music was weaved through this story everywhere. Music has been a part of my life for a long time and so I loved that about this story.

Unfortunately, I had some issues as well. Parts were hard to follow. Other parts seemed overly difficult or too easy for the heroine, making it drag in places and making me feel like the story was longer than needed. I also felt like Liesl was an unreliable character, or maybe just inconsistent. There were times when I thought she would do as she should and then other times were she was cruel or did things she shouldn't and I didn't like her (or when she throws tantrums). It's hard to love a story if you don't love the protagonist. She did eventually mellow out a little and I liked both her and Erlkönig in the end, although I wasn't too sure about the twist. It felt a little like musical sacrilege.

Then there was the content. It completely crossed a line for me about half-way through where the author was overly descriptive and the characters almost slept together. I just didn't expect that type of content. I already didn't like some of the descriptions and so coupled with the scene... Just not what I needed to know or read and I didn't feel the author needed to go that far when she could have easily conveyed what happened with far less. From that point on there was almost constant innuendo, suggestive references, and then fade-to-black scenes. Add to that a gay relationship (just not my thing) and conversations that went in circles and it made it tough to be invested. There were sweet moments mixed in among all of this, but not the most enjoyable reading.

In the end, the story frustrated me. I began it with such hope. I liked parts of it, but equally disliked others.

Content: Recommended for 18+. Innuendo and descriptive scenes that felt more like adult romance or erotica. Some violence and grotesque scenes.
Source: Received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley and the tour host, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.

Hi. Given permission on Thursday 9th February. Finished my last book and the tried to download this today but I can't as it's archived. As a result, I can't read or give feedback. Sorry.

UPDATE

I managed to download it.

Essentially, I am disappointed with this novel. I didn't care enough about the characters so reading felt like a duty not an investment. The language was clunky; I understand the tone the writer was trying to achieve but it just left me cold.

It had so much promise but it didn't deliver.

I can honestly say I don’t know how to feel about this, other than I feel strongly. Wintersong by S Jae Jones is beautiful, with grand, sweeping descriptions that envelope the reader in a faerie new world. But it is also not enough at times. There are characters you come to love and grieve for, and others you grow to tolerate. It definitely bears the marking of an author trying to strike the right balance between all of the different elements needed to make a story truly amazing.

Jumping off of Christina Rossetti’s AMAZING Goblin Market poem, Jae Jones sets the bar high for her debut novel, perhaps unfairly so as it sets the readers aspirations aloft. You get a feeling that there’s danger and villainy abound. Yet, it never really feels that way, which was fine by me as I loved the Goblin King we did receive. But it sets up the expectation that things will be visceral, guttural, almost an assault upon the senses, yet still controlled and melodic. Instead, the senses are dulled, most probably because this is meant for a YA audience, therefore the mature scenes are skipped over or kept to a minimum, which is truly a shame because Jae Jones excelled at the small snippets that were there.

Jae Jones also does melancholic longing amazingly well. The prologue, aka Overture, broke my heart and it was just the short tiny prologue. She immediately is able to convey the dynamic between Liesl and the Goblin King, as well as their entire history and everything that would ever be. If the prologue were made into a book, I’m pretty sure it would destroy me. Yet, we jump in at the tail end of a romance with a character that is almost unrecognizable from the prologue.

And that’s where my main problem lies. What knocks the book down from what would otherwise have been an easy 5 stars, to 3 and a half. Liesl is so unbearably plain and passionless that it’s hard to care for her. She seems to lack a personality outside of music, outside of what she can do for others. This isn’t something that is remedied, even by the end of the book. I understand different heroines for different readers, but she just didn’t do it for me. She was too meek, too unlike the girl from the Overture. I can understand that life and responsibilities may have dulled her spark, but even while beside the Goblin King, she never truly seems to recover.

The Goblin King, on the other hand, is an amazing character that shines in all regards. He is well rounded, as light and fun as he is broody and melancholic. Compassionate and giving as he is cruel. Handsome and loving, readers love him before they even know him, which makes his pairing beside Liesl so uncomfortable for me.

Now, the reason I am overwhelmed with emotion, though which emotion I know not? THAT ENDING! It was expected and unexpected at once and just really makes you realize things about life and love and I want to talk more about it but spoilers and :(

Wintersong by S Jae Jones is a tremendous debut novel that has some real strengths. Even with the stumbles, it leaves you feeling emotional and way too invested. With a bit more direction and time on character progression in the future, Jae Jones is well on her way to becoming a five-star author, whether she chooses to remain in YA or delve out.

When I first heard about this Labyrinth/Persephone retelling I immediately began pestering the publicist for a copy. Eventually she relented and I was SO ecstatic. Wintersong was one of my most anticipated books of 2017…and it ended up being a massive disappointment.

Although I’m a big fan of the setting – 18th century Bavaria – there was so little character development, that I never got a feel for who these characters were. Leisl is plain and ugly. Her sister is gorgeous and charming. The Goblin King has pointy teeth and is tall. …that’s about all I can tell you. Initially Wintersong was a typical fantasy-esque quest (Käthe has been taken by the goblins and Leisl must go save her) and I was totally on board. Halfway through, however, it became more about Leisl’s own journey to find herself and, naturally, she does that by falling in love.

I wanted so much more from this book than what I got, but I’m admittedly in the minority. The ending left me incredibly frustrated and while there’s supposed to be a ‘companion’ book coming out, I’m not quite sure if I’m interested enough to read it.

ARC copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review



I can't remember the last time I felt so intensely conflicted about a book. Set in 19th C Bavaria, Wintersong tells the story of the Vogel siblings from Liesl's POV. Girls are warned by their provincial elders not to want too much, to be modest and hard working, to be chase or else Der Erlkonig will fetch them away. But to Liesl, who is genuinely plain (not plain in a 'I don't realise how gorgeous I am' kinda way) as well as strange, intense and musically gifted, the story is seductive. She does not remember the strange companion of her childhood, anymore than she lets herself think about the music she composes or the future she wishes she had - usurped by her adored younger brother - but Liesl has met the Goblin King; once upon a time they were friends...



This is a folktale, a historical fantast and a lush, tempestuous romance all rolled into one. And as unbiased as I try to be in my reviews, I am very conscious of the fact that this was exactly the story I wanted to read at exactly the time I wanted it, told in pretty much exactly the way I wanted. So this is not an unemotional appraisal. Not that I can't see the flaws in the book. The structure does have a few wobbly moments and the narrative is occasionally over-written. It feels as if it could have done with another pass but the author ran out of time. That said the prose is gorgeous, the characters are complicated and engaging, and the plot is twisting and slyly gets under your skin. There were times when Liesl was actually thoroughly unlikeable but I couldn't help rooting for her and wanting to know what happened all the same. If you know anything at all about musical theory, that's how this book reads - like a sonata scored in musical notation. I would go a step further and say that the push and pull of the MC interactions, the dark undertone and the bittersweet nature of the story actually mirror a number of pieces of classical music or even opera. (Think Shubert's Death and the Maiden or Der Erlkonig, or Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake) And opera never has an entirely happy ending... I would be surprised if other influences didn't include the Persephone/ Hades myth, Beauty and the Beast, East of the Sun West of the Moon and the 80s classic film - Labyrinth.



****SPOILER ALERT BELOW****



But where I really came unstuck was the ending, which is the sole reason this didn't get 5 stars. I had not realised quite how hard I shipped the MCs and I didn't like the way it resolved. In fact I actually felt punched - which is no mean feat because not much catches me by surprise in books anymore. And obviously this is where I am being emotional rather than reasonable because I was so upset and angry with the ending, I've knocked off a star. As I said, it's been a long time since a book has affected me so badly.



**** SPOILER END****



All in all this was utterly fabulous. I do appreciate a good standalone (even though I wish this one wasn't). This is mature fairy tale fantasy for those who like their YA fiction with a bit more complexity and strength. Highly recommend for fans of Claire B Dunckle's Hollow Kingdom series or anyone who loves Labyrinth. Will definitely read the author's next book.

First of all DROP DEAD GORGEOUS COVER!!!!

For fans of Cruel Beauty if you appreciated Nyx's slight darkness in her character then you'll definitely like Liesl as a character! She has a kind of selfishness that she is well aware of. Even though she loves her brother she still has this twinge of resentment for him because she's jealous that he gets all the attention when she is just as talented. She poured all her energy and talent into him and as a consequence he went into the limelight and she lingered in the shadows. It was totally realistic for her to want to break out and show everyone who she really was especially after she's always been told that she had no talent. It made her much more down to earth and humane.

I also liked that Liesl doesn't have a drop dead gogeous beauty that most YA MC's seem to have these days and she doesn't go through a makeover and put on a pretty dress to change either. We can tell she's kind of insecure about her looks but we see that her beauty lies in her music.

LOVED the plot!!!! It was simple but so interesting and gripping at the same time! I haven't watched Labyrinth so i didn't really know where the story was going. But i loved every second of it!

The writing was lyrical. The musical aspect of the story permeated the entire book making it rich in its background and incredibly unique. I'm not musical at all so there are things that didn't really ring a bell to me but it was like the writing itself was infused with music! It was melodious and flowed smoothly. Like the language of the book was music and the romantic connection between Liesl and the Goblin King stemmed from music!

The Goblin King was my favorite part of the book! Though i didn't fall in love with him as i thought i would he was by far the most interesting character! He was oozing mystery and you just wanted to dig deeper and deeper until you found out all his secrets! He had a truly beautiful character which shifted between vulnerability and malice!

I loved the connection between Liesl and the Goblin King. They pushed each other endlessly to the edge and they set each other free. They brought out the most passionate feelings in each other which helped fuel their music.

“There is music in your soul. A wild and untamed sort
of music that speaks to me. It defies all the rules and laws you humans set upon it. It grows from inside you, and I have a wish to set that music free.”

I have to mention that all the characters are extremely well developed! Every single character is unique. Liesl was just phenomenally written with all her flaws and it made her easier to connect to. Kathe was the vain sister but who always felt somehow alienated because she was the only one in her family with no musical talent and yet she loved her family, especially Liesl. All the characters had real depth, especially the Goblin King who was a whole can of mystery and intrigue!

Bittersweet ending!!! I don't know how i feel! But from reading the last line i think there's hope for a sequel because i need more of these characters!!!! But my favorite part was by far the writing-just beautiful!

The Goblin King the Lord of Mischief and the ruler of underground has always been a part of Liesl's life even if she doesn’t remember him. She grew up and had to take on responsibilities of helping run the inn and give up her dreams as they are foolish desires of a child. Now her path will cross with the Goblin King and promises must be kept. Selfless sacrifices are made and where love is what sustains life.

I enjoyed the beauty and darkness of this story. Where music and art is woven into the tale. Where finding out who you truly are is giving in to wildness and desires. That you must be unraveled in order to find your true self. Where we live as long as someone remembers and loves us. I hope there is more to this story as I was left wanted to know what happened to the Goblin King and Liesl. If you love dark tales this won't disappoint. I definitely recommend this book.

For some reason this book did not capture my interest. I read about a third of the book before giving up and moving on to the next one.

After finishing this book, I had to take a few days to actually process what I had read and how I felt about it all, and this was not entirely due to the fact that I was very sick at the time. I will address all of the reasons behind this in the paragraphs below.

I would first like to point out that the writing was quite beautiful, and that although I am not musically educated, I was able to enjoy all of the musical theory and terminology used in this book. If someone had described this book in such a way to me, however, I am not sure whether I would have picked it up, because I would feel intimidated, and as if I would be unable to understand the book due to never having studied musical theory.

Jae-Jones integrated this musical terminology and theory in such a way that I found it enjoyable, and if anything, it made me wish that I had studied maybe just a little bit of music theory while in school, and also that I had a soundtrack to go along with this book!

The novel overall, was a magical experience, and I really loved the world which I was thrust into while reading Wintersong, the beautiful aspects as well as the horrific ones. Whenever it comes to books about the Fae, or goblins, or such things, I find that both sides (good and evil, beautiful and ugly) should be explored equally, and Jae-Jones did just that.

Wintersong‘s characters felt very real (the humans acting as one would expect them to, and the non-humans as one would expect non-humans to act). They also varied in the manner in which they made their choices, depending on whether they were more emotional, or rational characters. The relationships between characters was also believable; Liesl’s relationship with each of her family members varied, which I found great, and her relationship with the Goblin King also felt very much based on reality, despite the otherworldly setting in which their interactions played out.

Liesl and the Goblin King’s relationship did not feel forced, and was realistic in that there were ups and downs, as well as mixed feelings. Their chemistry was nearly tangible from the first moment they interact in the book. Some of the more heated scenes, however, felt a little cut short, and after finishing the book, I found out that this was due to the fact that Wintersong was initially meant to be an adult novel, containing quite a bit of sexual content. Although, while this explained why those scenes felt a off, it did not fix the scenes themselves, and I feel as if maybe they should have been more revised.

Lastly, without writing any spoilers, I would just like to say that this book did not end as I had expected, and that it left with a mix of feelings which I feel are now (days later, still unresolved). Perhaps if the book had been allowed to remain an adult novel, I would not have been as surprised by the ending as I was, and that my feelings toward Wintersong would have been more straightforward.

I would recommend this book for those looking for a darker fantasy read, and those who enjoy a dash of horror in a book which is a mix of both fairytale, and historical.