Wintersong is beautifully written and read like a classic fairy tale while still feeling new and interesting. But the p[lot and characterizations were king of hit or miss for me with the split plot points and some good and some not so good character developments. I think this is definitely worth a read. If you are a fan of fantasies, especially ones that have heavy romance I think you will really enjoy this book.

Once again, another 2017 debut novel has bewitched me, and this time I have been enchanted by Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones. Set up as a retelling of Labyrinth, I interpreted Wintersong more as a mashup of Christina Rossetti's cautious poem "Goblin Market," the fierceness of "Beauty and the Beast," with sparks of Jane Eyre's "plain-Jane-with-an-independent-will"shadowing the burning flames of Liesl and the Goblin King's story. I don't say this lightly, but after reading this novel, I just wanted to shout, "F!!!!CK, this book is so good!"

First, I loved the storyline and pacing of Wintersong. After devouring 150 pages in one sitting, and noticing that the book was 448 pages long, I slowed my reading speed in order to savor the story a little longer. S. Jae-Jones writing is so beautiful and engaging. I really enjoyed how her writing illuminated such strong passion and raw affection on the page. I personally found her storytelling and characters leaving more than a story buzzing in my ear. In my case, Liesl and the Goblin King haunted my dreams, whispered in my thoughts, and begged that I finish their story whenever I put the book down.

Liesl and the Goblin King's relationship is not set up as any typical young adult trope. Instead of instant-love, these two characters carried a flame for each other since their youth, where they laughed, danced, and played music in the Goblin Grove. And as they grow older, their infatuation for one another remained an ember slowly bursting into flames of desire. Their relationship is filled with anger, misunderstandings, tenderness, excitement, and such intense devotion. The chemistry between these two characters is breathtaking--it cracks, it sizzles, and it purrs. They are two independent beings, eager to please themselves and each other.

In the end, I found Wintersong to be a vibrant story about caution, close family bonds, sacrifice, fiery passion, trust, and love. Although the ending is left open-ended, I would love to read a sequel. I'm being selfish here, because I want more Liesl and the Goblin King! (Sorry not sorry.) I cannot recommend this novel enough. If you enjoy the intense and complicated relationships portrayed in Victorian novels, a dash of German language, crossing the blurred lines between fantasy and reality, and the slow burn of two characters connecting in a novel, Wintersong is the perfect book before you.

OMG OMG OMG OH MY GOD OHH MYYYYY GOD OMG O-M-G!!!
Is it a review if I keep repeating this? One DinA4 page with just O-M-G?! And I am not even the kind of girl who runs around saying "O-M-G", but this book made me that kind of girl.
I have to admit, I wasn't really interested in it from the cover and description. Don't get me wrong, the cover art is lovely, it's just not something that would attract my attention. But the title kept creeping higher and higher in the most requested space and it made me wonder. WHY would people want to read about "Käthe" and "Liesl" and Goblins? Goodreads surprised me again: Almost only 4-5 Star ratings.. WHAT was going on here? I was just too curious to not apply for a galley. Thankfully, I got it. But it still needed 6 weeks for me to get started with it. What a waste of time! I was basically chanting "Oh my god"'s the whole time while reading. This is just SO SO GOOD! The eerie atmosphere just grabbed me right away! And Käthe was a nice new touch of heroin. So reliable. I've read that the writer wanted a hero for 16 year old self. A little outcast. Well, there a million girls like this out there and they should all love Käthe. And the Goblin King, gosh, could you tune it down more and still got the goosebumps? Incredible writing here! So much feeling in just one line. And the reader knows. he knows.
This book had me crying in the end. I do love Unhappy Ends, I always want characters to be miserable in the end, but Jones made me wish for a sequel just so the Erlkönig can be freed and be with her. I mean, come on! THAT ENDING?! It made me furious. I loved it. Every page of it. In the middle I was a bit worried, what could still happen, now that they're married, but the pacing never got boring, the story never dull. It's a page turning adventure, a little creepy and little dark and oh so romantic.
It reminded me of the book thief, but for music lovers. I cannot wait to have this in my store and basically force all my customers to buy this. For their sakes. And now the wait for Book 2 begins.

Wintersong hooked me from page one. The writing is gorgeous, lyrical, and just kept drawing me into the story. I really liked Liesl as a character. She was incredibly honest and flawed at times, and I felt like there was something about her that was just so... authentic. I could sympathize with her struggles even though I didn't always share them. I liked how she wasn't afraid to say that she wanted to know the feeling of someone being attracted to her, to show her attention the way people did to her sister.

Speaking of her sister, there is so much focus on family relationships in this book, which is another thing that I loved. So much of the plot revolves around Liesl trying to determine what is best for her family, finding a place in her family, her duty to her family. And I really loved her siblings, and even her mother and grandmother! I could have lived without her father, but I suppose his indifference toward her talent was probably pretty realistic for the time period.

Oh, and her talent! Yes, Liesl and her brother Josef both have quite an affinity for music, but in different ways. Josef plays, Liesl writes, only no one ever knows that she is behind the music. Usually, music in books for me is tolerable at best but in this case, I actually found myself caring about it! Which... I don't know, it says quite a bit about the author's ability to draw me into a subject I am usually apathetic toward. It fit into the story in a lot of really perfect ways, and I appreciated that.

The romance was slow to start, but once it did, I shipped it a lot. There were a lot of swoon-worthy moments. A. Lot. I don't want to say much more about the romance because it would be spoilery, so I am just going to say that I really liked it and move on. There was one aspect I wasn't as fond of, and that was that (and this is a spoiler, so... I will tell you guys not to read it but you will anyway. I know how you all operate!) (view spoiler)

There are slower moments, and sometimes they were completely fine- like I said, the writing is so stunning, the character development so well done, that I didn't mind most of the slower moments. But there were a few times, especially in the second half of the book, that I felt that maybe speeding things up, or perhaps just not including a few repetitive parts, would have helped.

Bottom Line: This was such a lovely book, with characters that I grew to care deeply about and a magical story that had me hooked throughout. I was so happy to hear that there would be a companion novel, as I cannot wait to jump back into the characters' lives, the world, and the writing!

Did you beware the goblin men? Or did you fall under the spell of the Goblin King himself?

Wintersong is a magical song of a story, woven with lyrical prose and a simmering romance that will make you swoon. Drawing inspiration from the movie Labyrinth, this new YA fantasy will have you composing to your own Goblin King.

When I first went to read this book, I couldn't get into it and it wasn't the book, it was the then-me. Then I decided to give it another go after some time passed but not before I was convinced to watch Labyrinth first (now that was quite the experience). I think if I hadn't, I wouldn't have noted the subtle nods to the movie within the book. The first half of Wintersong reminded me of the movie more than the second but if you haven't seen the movie, I don't think you'll miss out on anything.

Now I'm a bit conflicted about this book. It's divided into parts but I felt like there was a natural break in the story between the first half of the book and the second. The first follows Liesl as she attempts to rescue her sister from the Underground, lorded over by the Goblin King. The second is her romance with the Goblin King. I don't feel like that's much of a spoiler since it's all but said in the synopsis. My struggle comes with talking about a book that has two distinct parts that have their own strengths and weaknesses.

The first half moves quick and the tension is high. I devoured it in about an hour, I couldn't get enough. The constant fear that someone could die, of all things, is certainly something to keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, the writing is absolutely gorgeous.

Things slowed down for the second half where the romance consumed the plot and had a few swoon-worthy moments. But when I say "slowed down" I mean I felt like nothing really happened. And, honestly, it really didn't. I should mention that I read that Wintersong originally was intended as an adult book but those not-so-safe-for-work scenes were altered to make it more YA friendly. The problem with knowing this is that I think it needed those scenes. The second half of the book builds to this climax but never quite reaches it and then...the book ends.

Wintersong reminded me a lot of my experience with reading The Star-Touched Queen. I enjoyed the beauty of the writing and there was a story underneath, but the prose and romance masked any tension or action that would've kept the pacing similar to the first half.

In short, this book had pacing issues.

But I enjoyed the characters. Liesl is both selfish and selfless, an adventurer but also scared. She was a fun character to read about but I can't say I found her remarkable in any way. As for the Goblin King, I had the issue with picturing him as David Bowie since I watched the movie right before reading. I expected a crueler character but in the end the Wintersong Goblin King was kind of a softy and I got it and all, but I wouldn't have minded him being a bit more villainous either.

I think that's what I was missing: a villain. A true villain. There wasn't enough conflict, desperation to achieve a goal, after the first half of the story.

All in all, this was a very lyrical read and I will definitely be buying it and reading any future work by S. Jae-Jones. But on its own, my feelings are very mixed on this one. It had its highlights but also its faults. If you enjoy absolutely gorgeous writing and a fairy tale-esque story, then this is a perfect fit for you!

I'm going to keep this review short and sweet because (Sorry, I tried.) I feel like if you already love the movie Labyrinth, you'll really enjoy this book, which is semi-based on it. Maybe. Probably. I did. But I've seen others struggle with it. Mostly because of length and how long it takes for the plot to really get going. And it does. But...it's also totally worth it?

I really wish I'd written this review immediately after I finished reading the book back in October. I had such eloquent and though-provoking things to say about it then. They would undoubtedly be no less true now, but I can't remember them. Probably should have re-read the book first. But time is of the essence and I have oh-so-little of it as it is. I will definitely re-read this story in the future, especially if it becomes available on audio -- oh, please, please let that become a thing because I can only imagine how enticing the Goblin King would sound -- and as the release of the second book nears.

I still remember my older sister coming home from the video store with a copy of Labyrinth on VHS when I was just a youngling. And I remember the intense and immediate love I felt for Sarah and her plight...and Jareth, the Goblin King. I was raised a David Bowie fan from the cradle, and so seeing him in this role was tantamount to all of my wildest dreams coming true. And then to find out recently that an author was furthering my dreams by writing a story set in that world? Be. Still. My. Heart.

It was difficult, at first, not to picture Jareth as Jones' Goblin King. But she does a great job of reminding the reader what he looks like, how different he is from that other character, and how very nameless he is, and it works well to help you separate the two entities. Yes, the same magnetism exists between Liesl and the Goblin King, but in this story, he's actually able to reach the heroine in a way that Jareth never was able to.

I went into this story expecting it to be heavy on the romance. But it doesn't really start out that way. In fact, it takes a very long while to reach that point. Instead, I felt that the story was more heavily influenced by music and sacrifice...and how inexorable sacrifice seems when love is involved.

I've discussed this book at great lengths with friends, and whatever issues they've had, I've been able to overcome them. I don't know if it's my loyalty to the original story or just that I absolutely loved the writing and atmosphere of this book -- probably a little from Column A and a little from Column B, if I had to guess -- but I found this novel exquisitely lovely. So much so that I was inspired to create a t-shirt based on it, when given the opportunity.

Beautiful Writing
The writing is beautiful. The work is eloquent and offers a variety of descriptions for the world. There is an aesthetic quality to the diction that adds a very elegant feel to the writing and the story.

Abstract Concepts
I love music, and to have this story so very rooted in music thrilled me. I felt I could relate to the story because I played music and understood music and… knew absolutely nothing about what was going on in this book. *sigh* The problem with music is that it is a sound. Sure the notes are written on paper, but at the end of the day, it’s a sound and how one feels about said sound. Thus, it doesn’t translate well into literature. For that reason, much of the basis of this book just felt very abstract and unattainable, making it difficult to really get a feel for what was going on in the story.

Lack of Character Interaction
I was quite disappointed with this book in the regard that there was a severe lack of character interaction between our MC, Liesl, and the Goblin King. Yes, they interacted, but the interactions were either so subtle that I must be completely oblivious to them or non-existent in the story. Thus, the story kind of boiled down to little more than world-building and abstract musical qualities.

Published 1/31/17.

So I’ll start right off by saying I absolutely adored WINTERSONG. Like ridiculously. With that being said, though, I do think that my opinion of the book is clouded by my undying love for Labyrinth, by which WINTERSONG is inspired, and I think that allowed me to slide past issues that I normally would be more critical of in any other book. So take this review with that information in mind.

With that being said, oh god, this book is love. Jae-Jones nailed the Goblin King in both an homage and her own original character so succinctly that I couldn’t help but swoon. The pain that Elizabeth goes through over the course of the book is heart-wrenching and joyous all wrapped up into one. Yes, there were tears at the end. I’m a sap. Don’t tell anyone. The rescue of Kathe from the Underground was perfection. Jae-Jones made my fangirl heart sing with some of the lines she used (“I’ve given you everything you’ve ever wanted. I’m tired of living up to your expectations.”) and some of her descriptions (“The Goblin King was lounging against one of the alder trees in the grove, one arm draped against the trunk, the other resting casually against his hip. His hair was in wild disarray, ruffled and feathery, like thistledown, like spiderwebs, illuminated by the full moon into a halo about his head. His face held all the beauty of angels, but the grin upon his face was positively devilish.”) Nailed it. Truly.

WINTERSONG is a fairy tale for a new generation, wrapping up old world charm and warning with modern day desires and wills, making Elizabeth something everyone, male or female, can relate to with the decisions she’s forced to make and how she actually feels about them. Jae-Jones creates her own world in the village where Elizabeth lives and draws on elements from old faery tales and Labyrinth to create an Underground entirely her own. She created a life, a past, for the Goblin King that a lot in the fandom wanted, that played into the fan service of giving us a Goblin King who isn’t entirely heartless and isn’t entirely inhuman (but still plays that inhuman card incredibly well). WINTERSONG is beauty, plain and simple.

With that being said, I did take issues with a couple of things, namely pacing and descriptions. The pace of the story was exhausting simply because it crescendoed multiple times. Where you think the story ends it can’t possibly end and then it launches into what is rightly a second story of its own to complete the premise. It made the book feel longer than what it should have been, however, once I got settled into the second story of the book the pacing picked up and before I knew it I found myself closing in on the end.

As for the descriptions, toward the end, probably from the halfway point on is when I really started noticing it, they were redundant and repetitive. It felt like they were there for the sake of tone than to actually describe something. Austere young man is one that really comes to mind because Elizabeth used it A LOT. This then played into voice a little bit. For the most part I didn’t have any issue with the voice, however, I do felt it reaching every once in a while. Just trying a little bit too hard to be that blend of faery tale and Jane Austen type of voice that speaks to a particular type of story. But it wasn’t distracting enough for me to not like what I was reading.

Like I said, WINTERSONG is beautiful and it ended in the absolute perfect place. My heart. I do think I’m giving a pass to some issues because of my ultimate love for Labyrinth and the feels this book incites in me, but I’m okay with that. At least I’m being up front about it. I’d still recommend it, I’d still buy it for people, because it’s a book that should be read. It deserves to be read. So read it.

4

For those expecting something like the Labyrinth, this does have aspects of it but it honestly felt more like the Phantom of the Opera than anything else. Whilst it was beautifully written, I just didn't connect with the characters or engage with the story like I wanted. I didn't hate it by any means though, and actually quite enjoyed the last quarter. I'm sure this book will be loved by a lot of people but it just wasn't my thing.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones has a gorgeous setting that begs to be explored, but its characters failed to draw me in. Liesl has grown up in a family that doesn’t quite appreciate her. Much of her life revolves around taking care of her younger brother, Josef, and helping him grow into a talented musician. Though Liesl once had her own dreams, she chose to bury them deep in order to help her brother succeed. Her relationship with her sister Käthe is much more rocky. Liesl’s practicality is juxtaposed with Käthe’s easy nature. Liesl is haunted by memories of an otherworldly childhood companion, memories that she is convinced are just a figment of her imagination. When Käthe is taken, Liesl can no longer deny these memories and must enter the Underground and claim her sister before she is lost forever.

Liesl is supposed to be a sympathetic character and for the most part, I did sympathize with her. She had loads of musical talent herself, but was forced to play second fiddle to her brother. Käthe was always looked at as the pretty one, while Liesl has come to accept that she is plain. Unfortunately, Liesl spent far too much time bemoaning these things. She continually put herself down and at every turn, denied her own talent because in her mind it would detract from her brother. What bothered me more was Liesl’s insistence on describing herself as plain. She seemed far too wrapped up in this fact and after a while, I tired of her putting such importance on how she looked. Liesl’s character does shine when it comes to music. A talented composer, Liesl has had little time to devote to her art and it was only when she was embracing this side of her, that I really felt moved by her character.

Liesl’s relationship with the Goblin King is confusing. Der Erlkönig is many things, beautiful and dangerous, one moment he is callous and the next surprisingly shy. Unfortunately, this made me feel like I was reading about two different characters that I was never able to reconcile. These contrasting traits made it even more difficult to feel anything when it came to the romance. Liesl and the Goblin King’s exchanges were at first filled with tension and it kept me reading, but quickly became tedious, especially when the protagonist didn’t quite understand her feelings and never really seemed to question them. We are told these two were friends when they were children, but are given little to no backstory regarding this. I would have liked a couple of flashbacks, just to put their relationship into perspective.

I did appreciate that Liesl finally came into her own and Jae-Jones had such beautiful descriptions when it came to the Goblin King’s world, but in the end I was left wanting more.

https://librarianonthelake.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/wintersong-by-s-jae-jones/

The one thing I knew for absolute certain about Wintersong before I started reading it was this: it was inspired, in ways, by the film Labyrinth. It had been years since the last time I saw Labyrinth, so I went out of my way to watch it again in January and refresh my memory. High on the musical numbers and the affection for the characters, I dove straight into reading this debut novel.

Wintersong is about Liesl, a practical, hard-working gal devoted to her family. She is also a girl who secretly dreams of composing music, inspired heavily by the Goblin King. She hasn't seen him since she was a child, but his reappearance in her life is sudden and startling - especially when her sister Käthe is kidnapped and taken underground to his realm. Liesl makes the journey to rescue Käthe, but is forced to offer her hand in marriage in exchange for her sister's freedom. As she grows accustomed to life underground, Liesl soon discovers that she still harbors a strong connection to the Goblin King, her childhood playmate who is now her husband. But even as sparks fly, even as her musical abilities soar, both Liesl and the Goblin King are forced to reevaluate just what sacrifices they are willing to make.

The parallels between the film and the novel are obvious - the self-centered nature of the protagonist, the kidnapping of a beloved sibling, and the journey underground. All of these things are really front and center in the first half of Wintersong, when Käthe is kidnapped and Liesl goes after her. It is this part of the novel that I really liked best, as I'm always partial to stories of strong sibling relationships and exciting adventures of rescue. In addition to the story, I found the setting wonderfully immersive since Jae-Jones does well in bringing the variety of settings (village, the inn, the woods, the underground) and characters (Liesl, Liesl's family, the Goblin King) to life. Throw in the way music is woven in, the warring natures in Liesl (selfless versus selfish), and that'll basically be all the reasons I thought the first half was pretty good.

You might be wondering - what about the second half of Wintersong? Well, before going into it, I actually thought that the entirety of the story was about Liesl's journey underground to rescue Käthe. So, I was surprised to discover that the second half of this story was something else entirely: an in-depth look at the blossoming romance between Liesl and the Goblin King, coupled with Liesl's flourishing musical talent. It was definitely an unexpected change of pace! I liked that Liesl felt free to express herself musically, and that she was provided with the means to do so. But I'm of mixed stance on the romance, since there were both sweet moments and uncomfortable ones in turn. I wound up not being entirely fond of this part of the story, even though I was still interested enough to find out how it would come to an end.

In sum, my feelings are quite mixed towards Wintersong. I enjoyed the first half, but didn't love the second half. I didn't connect with any of the characters or feel like I truly got to know them, but I thought the setting was immersive and the incorporation of music well-done. While I wouldn't be quick to give this one a general recommendation, if you think it'll be your cup of tea, then I would say go forth and read.

S. Jae-Jones’ writing is so lyrical and mesmerising that it’s easy to become hooked to the book. The world she crafted is dark and dangerous, and full of pain, temptation, seduction, and love. Sometimes the story is uncomfortable, but I kept hoping that it would have a happy ending. The story talks a lot about religion and beliefs, and who we are. There’s a lot of judgement towards Käthe who is interested in fashion and flirts with men for fun. In the context of the setting and the religion of the characters I suppose it’s realistic.

A big part of this book is the romance. At times I found it hard to root for them, because it seemed like Liesl wasn’t even sure of her feelings herself. Liesl is sometimes an inconsistent character, but then as you get to know her it’s easier to understand that she’s quite flawed, sad, and lonely, but her secret dream of being a composer is what kept her afloat. I kind of wish the story had a bit of a different ending only because I’m a sucker for those sappy happy endings where everyone gets what they want, but at the same time the ending suited the story.

This is also a story of family and what we’ll do to protect them. Liesl struggles to find common ground with her sister, so she instead builds a strong relationship with her musician brother. Over the course of her journey, she learns that her sister was lonely too and that Liesl would sacrifice everything to save her. Love is a powerful thing. There’s also an important arc for Liesl as she learns to love herself and be herself despite her parents forgetting her or putting her down. I think that's perhaps the best arc in the story. Liesl confronts who she is, and fights for herself.

Wintersong isn’t a perfect book, but it was a reading journey I’ll never forget. Even now the story is lingering in my mind. The characters are sometimes inconsistent, and sometimes the romance was a little off-putting as were some other aspects. But I really enjoyed the book.

The storyline was captivating. But I found that the descriptions (particularly of the character's feelings and emotional development) to be cumbersome and wordy. However, the plot was interesting enough that I powered on through!

Wintersong is one of those books that I fell in love with the title and synopsis of a long time ago, and have been impatiently awaiting it ever since. Although I've never seen Labyrinth, the whole plot just seems magical and exciting, and I knew it was going to be a book that I absolutely adored.

I'm not sure what my favorite part of this book was - whether it was the beautifully detailed world, the characters who had so much depth and made the book fun, or the plot that was both haunting and unforgettable.

I honestly hadn't read anything like this, although I try to read quite a bit of fantasy. It was simply a beautiful book, and I truly loved the way that music was incorporated into the novel. It adds so much extra to the book, and makes it even more enchanting. The characters are also well written and completely full of depth and personality, and it's super easy to really connect with them while reading this book.

Want to know what else I really loved about Wintersong? The fact that so much of it was based on family ties and love. So often it seems like the whole element of family is completely missing from YA fantasy, but that wasn't the case in this book, and I applaud the author for it. In fact, it actually focuses on the two sisters in the book, and the depths one sister would go to in order to save the other.

The whole goblin premise was new to me, as I've never actually read anything else with goblins, and I have to say, I think it was really well done - I found it enjoyable and different, and it really was of interest to me from the very first moment that I picked it up.

If you love YA fantasy, you really have to check out this book. It was such a beautifully written novel and had so many of the elements that make a great fantasy, all wrapped up into one (with an absolutely gorgeous cover). The author clearly has a gift when it comes to storytelling, and I'll definitely be reading anything else she writes!

Ugh! This book!!! The Feels!!

I have to say that my body went through every emotion while reading this book! I started off as nervous and by the end, I was crying!

I really loved this story line! Elisabeth is the oldest daughter of a poor family whom always is looking out for everyone else but herself. She helped her brother become a violin prodigy and basically gave up on the one person whom she had always had an attraction to her sister to marry. She feels lonely and like the ugly duckling of her family. One day she meets The Goblin King and she still fights to save her sister. But he is not all that he appears to be.

My favorite character was Constanze, Elisabeth’s crazy grandmother! She always talked in riddles and the family just entertained her craziness as long as it was convenient. She was a hoot!

The ending…ugh! Get your tissues ready cuz this one will leave you crying:-( I felt for Elisabeth and Aric. I am not sure if this is a stand alone but I am really hoping that we will get to see more of these characters in the future!!

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy! It was superb! Definitely 5 stars!!

Wintersong is a luscious tale of a king and a brave maiden. The story enchants you with its characters and the winter-y setting. But also pulls at your heartstrings with some really great writing. Wintersong deserves songs and poems in its name. It is a masterpiece and it's only the first sweet melody of this world I have come to love. I cannot wait for more. Let me have iiiiit.

I'll write my full review on the blog soon!!!

Wintersong was like an eerie fairytale but it was also different from anything Ive read before. I heard this is a retelling of the movie the Labyrinth but Ive never seen it. Leisl has always been fond of her grandmothers stories about the Goblin King but she never thought her imaginary childhood friend would kidnapp her sister. I thought the family ties were a great part of this book. I was so immersed in the story that I got swept up in the feelings of it all.

The lyrical writing did a fantastic job of making the musical atmosphere come alive. It reminded me a bit of Laini Taylors writing. This story had an enchanting and mysterious vibe that I really enjoyed. However the ending left me with some unanswered questions which was a little disapointing. It didnt have to end the way it did. Theres other things they could have done but I wont mention them because I dont want to spoil anything.

The first half of the book was amazing. I was captivated by the games Leisl played with the Goblin King when she was trying to save her sister. It was fast pace and gripping. I loved Leisl determination to save her sister and I was touched when Kathe missed her. Kathes character grew on me and I ended up really liking her. I didnt like their father but I understand that he's important to the main characters developpement.

My biggest issues were in the second half of the book but thats just my preference because I know some people who prefered the second half. The second half focused more on the romance while the first half has more action and focused on the family. I just felt like the scenes and details in the second half dragged a bit but the history behind the Goblin King and the Underground was fascinating.

The Goblin King, also known as the Lord of Mischief, was an interesting character. I didnt know if I was going to like him as a love interest at first but he was alright. Theres was just so much time spent on the music and not enough time spent developping his character that I didnt connect with him as much as I would have liked. I enjoyed the little bit of back story we got from him but I wanted more. Theres also some sexual content that I wasnt a big fan of.

I didnt like that Leisl put so much importance on sex and how she thought it could change who she is. I really appreciated that for once the main character was plain looking and not in the way were she doesnt think shes pretty but she really is. However, I still think beauty is a matter of personal preference. I could feel Liesls passion for music and her perspective gave me a new understanding and appreciation for music. I also felt her longing for her family. I could tell she really cared for them despite the sibling rivalry.

I wasnt sure why Hans chose to marry Kathe when it seemed like he cared more for Leisl since he gave her that red hood. I also dont know how the Queen was able to command the goblins to stop before they had consumated their marriage since the goblin said thats what the old law recognized. I liked the goblins Twig and Thistle even though Thistle wasnt very nice. Overall this was an enchanting tale that made me feel many emotions. Who knew Id love music and goblins so much.

Part of me wishes this wasn't a standalone but at the same time it couldn't have gone any other way. Recommend it for those who enjoy retellings but of lesser-known tales.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):


Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.

But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

What I Liked:


I know what you might be thinking: how did she not love this book to pieces? Why doesn't it say "5 stars", or at least "4 stars"? Believe me, I'm probably as surprised as you are. I fully expected to absolutely adore this book and gush about it after reading it. I expected to fall in love with a mesmerizing, seductive story; I didn't fall in love with the story, and (to me) it wasn't mesmerizing and seductive.

Liesl (short for Elisabeth) is the oldest of three children. She is the plainest child, the one most often forgotten. Her sister Kathe is beautiful, curvy, and flirtatious. Her brother Josef is a musical prodigy, playing the violin like no other. Liesl herself is a genius composer, but only Josef knows about the music in her soul. And it's a music that the Goblin King wants. No one believes in the Goblin King, save Liesl's grandmother... and Liesl herself. When she was a little girl, she used to be friends with him. Now she is older and no longer believes in her childhood fantasies. But when her sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl immediately strikes a bargain with him to get her out. In exchange for her sister's life, Liesl will marry the Goblin King and live in the Underground. She is no longer alive to the above world, and her family will soon forget she existed. In the Underground, Liesl is captivated by the Goblin King, whom she is slowly remembering that she has known him her entire life. As they grow closer, Liesl finds herself creating more music, and developing strong feelings for him. But nothing lasts forever, and a price must be paid. There are consequences for every action, and Liesl must decide what to sacrifice once and for all.

There are plenty of reasons to love this book, plenty of reasons why I understand the hype. For one, the writing is so beautiful. The author has a great writing style, and I love how wonderful the writing of this story was. Everything flowed idyllically, with a lull. The author has a talent for writing, and it shows, in her debut novel.

I'm not really familiar with the fairy tale on which the author based this story, or Labyrinth. However, I can tell that this is a retelling of a fairy tale. The story in general is so interesting. It has a Hades and Persephone feel to it (but more romantic, sort of). The world-building is well-written; I was expecting a lot of fantastical elements, and goblins of course, and there is a lot of all of that. Goblins, changelings, magic, twisted words, bargains... this story has it all.

Liesl goes through quite a transformation, in this book. Part of why she was willing to go down in the Underground with the Goblin King was because she wanted to be loved and wanted, for the first time in her life. She once believed she was plain and unr markable; by the end of the book, she has more self-worth, and she thinks more of herself. She is so selfless throughout the book, and by the end, she still has that soft heart, but she is also a stronger woman.

The Goblin King - I almost wish we could have read from his perspective. He is an enigma and a puzzle, and we slowly learn about him as the story goes on. I liked him, but I wasn't entranced by him (like many other readers were). I can understand the fascination with him, but he didn't come across as anyone special (more on this in the next section). I did like him though.

The romance is hot and cold. Liesl and the Goblin King clash and burn and simmer. They push and pull, and so there are scenes in which there is some serious heat, and then there are scenes in which they don't even want to look at each other. This book has content that is definitely "mature" and not for younger teens.

I'll talk about the ending in the next section. Overall though, I get the hype. Really, I do. And I think this is a well-written fantasy story with a great pairing and a sweeping tale. But maybe it was just me - I didn't fall in love with the story.

What I Did Not Like:


Maybe the book was over-hyped for me? I felt a little disappointed, even as I was reading. I was waiting for that OMG-THIS-IS-SO-GOOD moment, in which I knew I would be gushing for days about the book. I still haven't quite hit that point.

My irritation started with the beginning of the story - I hated Kathe. She's beautiful, selfish, and so, so spoiled. She only thinks of herself (though we see, as the story goes on, that that is not quite true). She is shallow and I honestly felt bad for Liesl for having to deal with her. But Liesl is a selfless sister, as sisters are.

I think I'm most disappointed in the romance - I wasn't all that convinced and sucked into the romance. Don't get me wrong, I shipped Liesl and the Goblin King. I can see why people think the romance is seductive and sensual. But I was... unimpressed? Maybe I was expecting more when people were like "oh the romance is so gritty and dark and sexy". It wasn't? The story takes a darker turn after the halfway point, and I suppose this book is a little sexier than any given Young Adult novel, but I didn't think it was particularly sexy.

Maybe it's because I have read so many adult romance novels and I know what a sexy romance in a story really is? How sexy seduction can actually be, in a fictional story? I'm not sure. But the romance was underwhelming in terms of the chemistry. Don't get me wrong! It's still a fairly sensual romance and there are a few hot scenes between Liesl and the Goblin King! I personally was unimpressed though.

All of their hot and cold was a little annoying too, to be honest. I didn't really understand their physical relationship either. At one point, it was like Liesl wanted the Goblin King to have sex with her to "fix" her. Is sex something that "fixes" people? Maybe it is, but in this book, it seemed so weird that sex was what unlocked Liesl's music. That seemed nonsensical. But hey, maybe I'm missing something that was part of the original story or fairy tale.

In terms of the Goblin King himself - he seemed somewhat one-dimensional. I understand that the story is all about Liesl's transformation, but I couldn't get a good enough sense of the Goblin King. We learn about him so, so slowly, and most of the time, it's like he's a piece of meat to Liesl, or something like that. He's the most interesting character of the book, but I feel like he is reduced to his height and his smiles.

Also, is it me or did the plot kind of meander? I couldn't really get a sense of where the story was going, after a point. So Liesl makes the deal with the Goblin King and she is now in the Underground and married to him. Okay? What's next - how they fall in love and ride off into the sunset? There was no "larger" plot at hand. You'd think there would be some impending doom, like the world ending, or the laws of the magical world being broken, or goblins escaping into the above world. But nope, the rising action and the climax are incredibly underwhelming. Where was the story going? I'm not sure.

So maybe the pacing was off, for me? Because it felt like the story meandered and went nowhere, and then BAM! Liesl has a choice to make, in the last 5% of the book (or thereabout). The climax occurs in the last 5% or so, which makes no sense. The ending was a slap in the fast, in terms of how it just showed up, with little explanation or execution.

The ending! The ending is so anticlimactic, underwhelming, and horrible! Horrible meaning cruel, though I saw it coming. What was the point? What was the point of the entire story? WHY was that allowed? What are the consequences? It happened in the past - how? Why? What came after? I had so many questions after I read the end of the book. The end literally makes no sense, and we get no explanation as to why it was allowed, what the consequences were, what the "aftermath"was.

Not to mention that the ending is so cruel and not a HEA. Every book doesn't have to end in sunshine and rainbows but... with a romance like this one? Color me disappointed that this book didn't end differently. There are so many ways the author could have ended this book. She choose the easy, predictable, and cruel way.

Unfortunately this book has left me with a feeling of dissatisfaction.

Would I Recommend It:


It's hard for me not to recommend this book, because it is a beautifully written, well-crafted story. And so many people have loved it. But I was unimpressed. I can appreciate the author's writing and the story and what she was going for, but the execution fell a little flat for me. However, I think anyone who was looking forward to reading this book should give it a chance. It could be me and my mood - or it could be the fact that I've read so many beautifully written, sexy romance novels that are the definition of "seductive" and "sensual". Then again, this book was underwhelming and not just in terms of the romance/chemistry, for me.

Rating:


3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. I hate to rate this book so low - though admittedly, 3 stars isn't super low. I so thought this book would be perfect for me - fantasy, fairy tale retelling, delicious romance. I was a little disappointed, but I'm most likely in the black sheep camp. I see the author is writing a companion novel - honestly, if the story doesn't feature Liesl and the Goblin King in some (happy) capacity, then I'm not sure I'm interested in the companion novel. I really don't want to read about Kathe. Josef, maybe? Really, I want more Liesl and the Goblin King.

**EDIT: I've learned that the sequel is a continuation one (and not a companion one). Yay! This doesn't change my rating, but it makes me feel better about the story, and I will definitely be reading the sequel.