I absolutely loved Wintersong. It was a beautiful story with such darkness and mystery. It was a dark fantasy romance and for once, it didn’t contain a vampire or a werewolf or the fae.. instead, it was a retelling of Labyrinth, complete with goblins! The heroine wasn’t beautiful and naive, but was instead more cunning and talented. She did not melt at the attention of men or even the Goblin King, desperate for attention, even thought she sometimes wanted to. I loved Liesl and her story.

Wintersong was gorgeous and lyrical, full of suspense and romance. I hate to give too much of the plot away, but it did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it and devoured it quickly. I love dark romances and I thought the book delivered exactly what I wanted with a ton of twists and turns.

I will say that I have not seen Labyrinth, so I have nothing to compare it to. I don’t know how much was changed or what the differences are. That also means I had no expectations, so I was able to fully immerse myself in the book. If you have really high expectations as a result of loving the movie, since it appears to have quite the cult following, I can’t comment on whether it’s a decent retelling. Otherwise, I highly recommend the book.

Wintersong is a magical YA fantasy that delivered a unique retelling I didn’t know I wanted.

Time did not stop for anyone, least of all me, but in that moment of our kiss, I found a little pocket of eternity.


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Wintersong is one of those books I worked really hard to get-trying every avenue and applying for every little ARC and giveaway until I got my hands on it. And, while I’m extremely pleased I got it, I can’t help but wish for more.

I’ll be honest and say I have no clue what to rate this book. On one hand, I loved the writing, the atmosphere,the absolutely amazing way the author described everything…but, on the other hand, there were moments when I was truly unhappy with the repetitive phrases (Ex: He was once again my austere young man, He wasn’t the austere young man, etc.), the lack of much plot (near the end), and the rather large focus on music.

I understood then what Constanze had meant when those doomed young ladies longed to hold on to him the way they yearned to grasp candle flame or mist. His beauty hurt, but it was the pain that made it beautiful. Yet it was not his strange and cruel beauty that moved me, it was the fact that I knew that face, that hair, that look. He was as familiar to me as the sound of my own music. This was the Goblin King.


NOW, hear me out-I don’t mind music in books-AT ALL-but, for quite a while, it felt like all the book had to offer. It based literally everything off their love of music, which is great, but then…not much else followed. For many, this may seem intriguing, and it was beautifully done, that’s for sure, but when the story doesn’t offer much else, I find it tends to bring me down-a lot.

In the world above, wishes were will-o-the-wisps: beautiful, but insubstantial and always just out of reach. Here in the Underground, will-o-the-wisps were very much real. Tricksy little creatures: sly, deceitful, but tangible. Touchable. My wishes had weight.


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That’s not to say I didn’t love parts-The opening was beyond words alluring, beautiful, and had me hooked from the moment I started. I didn’t quite grasp the first 35% per se, finding myself a bit lost at times, but I loved the direction it was going. And I must say, the end was my absolute favorite part of the whole story. There was romance, there was true love, or what I felt was the truest love of the book-besides sibling love-and a feeling so deep it drew tears to my eyes, even after battling over my true thoughts of this story.

His face was grave. “Are you willing to take that risk?”
An impossible choice. The life of my sister … or the fate of the world. I had thought my stakes were high, but I saw now that the Goblin King’s was even higher. “What will happen to you if I win?” I whispered.
A smile crossed his lips, but the corners were downturned, more sad than satisfied. “You know,” he said. “You’re the only one who’s ever asked.” Then he vanished in a swirl of wind and dead leaves.


So, as you can see, I’m lost as to what to rate this. Do I go lower because of my pensive thoughts throughout? The pondering over and over again on what exactly to think? Or do I stay higher knowing that, in the end, my heart was content, my mind extremely satisfied, and my curiosity squelched?

This was the immortality humans were meant to have: to be remembered by those who loved us long after our bodies had crumbled into dust.


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This book was heartbreaking. It was beautiful. Dark, sensuous, but sometimes lacking substance and the depth I craved. It could be a bit cold at times, and then all of a sudden lyrical and addicting.

I guess all in all…it had everything I ever ask for in a book-It wasn’t too heavy, even for non-fantasy readers, but where it shined in lyrical beauty, it lacked in making me feel for our main character. I don’t think I ever once connected with her like I did Kathe, her sister. She had a brighter personality, something to hold onto.

So here I am at the end of it all…and I can only deduce one thing: I both loved and hated this book. I know many people will love this story…I’m just stuck in that horrid in between-still very confused.

What a book to return to reviewing with! I think my emotions are still reeling, but I’ll do my best (as always) to try and put them into some sort of coherent thought.

Liesl has always been second to everyone in her life.  She walsys puts the needs of those around her above herself.  When her sister is taken from her by the Goblin King, Liesl agrees to take her place and become his bride.  In doing so, she learns so much about herself and the Goblin King.  In the end though, they’re forced to make a decision that could change them and their world forever.

This book destroyed me, but in the best way possible.

It was the book I needed to read right now.  I wasn’t expecting it to be, but it was.  There were a few issues I had with it, but overall, I really enjoyed it and I thought it was rather refreshing compared to many YA books out there.  It certainly doesn’t follow the usual tropes.

The plot moved slowly, but steadily.  I was expecting more to happen at the beginning.  I really loved Liesl, or Elizabeth as she’s later called, and the journey she takes.  There’s a true sense of self growth. Her sister, Käthe, and brother, Josef, were great supporting characters for her and really shape who she is–until she meets the Goblin King.  The Goblin King. I wanted more of him.  We see glimpses of his back story and why he is the way he is, but in the end, his story is a bit unresolved.

In terms of categorizing this book, Liesl is 19/20 years old and some scenes are rather strong in subject matter for a YA.  I can see how they get away with it, but still.

That ending.  THAT ENDING.

That ending was the source of my destruction.  But, like I said, in the best possible way.  I kept expecting a different scenario to occur, but I was proven wrong in the end.

What I loved about this was it touched upon the idea that people come into our lives for a reason.  They change us and make us who we are — for better or worse.  I love that the author was brave enough to explore this when many often stray from that.  Sometimes a happy ending isn’t the type you wanted, but the type you needed.

I'd like to start this review with a story: I first saw Labyrinth sitting in my bunk bed on an Air Force Base in Afghanistan. One of my best friends on deployment was obsessed with the movie and was appalled that I'd never seen it! I remember sitting on my bed wondering what in the hell I was even looking at on my laptop screen. Still, something about Labyrinth hooked me. Even though the puppets are bizarre, the music is weird, and Sarah is annoying, the character of Jareth has always fascinated me. When I found out about Wintersong and realized that the Goblin King was going to get a romance, I had to have it!

Wintersong is unique because, while it is a retelling of the Goblin King and does sort of feel like Labyrinth, it is an entirely new story. The main character is Liesl and, instead of trying to rescue a baby brother, she is trying to rescue her sister Käthe. In order to retrieve her sister, Liesl must agree to marry the Goblin King and stay with him Underground. But of course, there wouldn't be much of a story if things didn't become a bit more complicated than a quick marriage.

Let me be clear, I loved every character in this book. Liesl is the ugly sister, the plain one who has only ever wanted to compose music. She's insecure and unsure of everything about herself and I identified with her so hard! I loved her unsteady strength and independence and her relationship with her siblings. But even more than I loved Liesl, I loved the Goblin King.

He remained mysterious all the way until the end, but I loved it. I have always had a thing for love interests who are a little hard to pin down and the Goblin King certainly kept his secrets. Although he has a distinct character apart from the Goblin King of the film, I pictured him as having (younger) Jareth traits and it made the reading experience that much more fun (for me, at least). His story did become more clear towards the end, but I feel like there is still a lot that could be learned about the Goblin King and I'm really hoping for another book!

I've seen some mixed opinions on the actual romance of Wintersong, but I have to say that I loved that too! The relationship between Liesl and the Goblin King was tense and a little angsty and their romance was definitely a slow burn. The Goblin King has his own past to contend with, while Liesl is trying to figure out what it is that she wants. I am not usually one to enjoy slow burn, angsty romance, but this one was sweet and perfect.

Although this is marketed as YA and the main character certainly fits that category, Wintersong didn't necessarily feel like a young adult book. The writing was heavy and lyrical and, while the romance isn't quite to the level of Sarah J. Maas, there were (thankfully) some bits that you might not find in a typical young adult book. I felt like Wintersong combined the best of both worlds. The ending of this book is also not as clean cut as you may be used to. I've seen that some people didn't love the way it wrapped up, but it definitely left me wanting more!

I expected to love Wintersong when I was granted a review copy (thank you, Netgalley!) and I was not disappointed. This is already at the top of my 2017 reads list and I am anticipating that it will stay in my top five. I honestly can't say anything negative! If you're a Labyrinth fan, this is definitely the book for you! Even if you've never seen Labyrinth, though, I think Wintersong is a book that any fantasy lover will enjoy.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones is exactly the sort of book you want to read on a deep, dark winter night while snow is falling steadily. Once I saw the cover and read the summary for this book, I could not resist reading it. I opened it up on my Kindle and as expected, the pages just kept turning and turning themselves until I had finished the book. Wintersong is quite a gorgeous read, and if you’re a fan of imagery I think you’re going to love it.

S. Jae-Jones’s Wintersong follows main character Liesl, a young woman who composes music and loves her family so deeply. Liesl opens the book hanging out in this part of the forest near her home called the Goblin Grove. There, she has promised a boy who is a little bit odd that she will marry him someday. The two play all the time and so, she thinks it is just a game.

Flash forward and Liesl and her family who own an inn are all aflutter. Dad’s friend is this famous musician and he’s come to audition Liesl’s little brother, Josef for an apprenticeship. This could pull their family out of poverty. Meanwhile, Liesl’s sister is about to marry Liesl’s crush, Hans. But then, her sister disappears and is pulled into the world of the Goblin King aka that boy that Liesl promised to marry. And so, it’s up to Liesl to save her sister and sacrifice herself instead.

Liesl makes an admirable protagonist for Wintersong. I mean, she’s not portrayed as a great beauty like her sister. However, she’s got value. She cares more for her family than herself. She loves her sister and brother with all her heart and will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and happiness. Outside the realm of her family, Liesl has a gift for composition. So, of course this is an overture that we see again and again threaded throughout the story. Her music skills do come into play and have a good reason for being a part of Liesl’s character. I’ll leave it at that.

As for the romantic lead, the Goblin King is not really a whole lot like the Goblin King in Labyrinth, Jareth. He’s a bit more serious. He’s also not the first to take on the role of Goblin King. In fact, you might see him as a bit of a doomed character. Alas, it is up to Liesl to figure out just what his origin story is, while also falling in love with him. Meanwhile, she’s also trying desperately to figure out if there’s any way for her to live and reunite with her family.

Probably the single element besides the music that I liked best about Wintersong was the portrayal of family. Sure, Liesl’s family isn’t perfect. Her dad is an alcoholic. Her mom is, well, she tries, but she’s so practical. Liesl’s grandmother, Constanze gets the whole Goblin thing and tries to protect the family but because she’s old, the family ignores her. The bond between Liesl, Josef and their sister (I am blanking on her name, I think it’s Katya or something, ahhh) is strong. I mean, Liesl is the glue. So, when she disappears into the Goblin Grove and into the Goblin world, it makes sense that her siblings are trying their hardest to hang onto their memories of her and hopefully to save her as she has saved them over and over and over. I truly loved reading this bond.



I loved that the setting in this book was Austria while Mozart was around. Also, I am so so bad on years, but it’s not a time I often get to read about when reading historical fantasy. I loved that this world allows for the existence of people of color as well as gay people. The strong role of music within this book is also not something to be discounted, especially if you enjoy reading books with music as a main theme. I also really enjoyed the doomed feeling of the romance. I think if you’re looking for a darker sort of romance where it doesn’t wrap up so neatly, you’ll be into Wintersong.

Nineteen-year-old Elisabeth (Liesl) Vogler has always been the protector of her younger siblings Käthe and Josef. She helps out her parents in a Bavarian Inn. Although she is the oldest, Käthe is prettier. Liesl creates music with her brother but because she is a girl, it is frowned down upon. During an audition, Käthe is kidnapped.

Liesl plays by the Lord of Mischief's rules and tries to save Käthe but the The Goblin King makes it quite difficult. Through a labyrinth of rounds, Liesl tries to outsmart The Goblin King but finds out it's a lose-lose situation. In an exchange for Käthe's freedom and to save the world from eternal winter, Liesl makes the sacrifice to take Käthe's place. A life for a life. A hand in marriage. However, that's not the only thing Liesl sacrificed.

Liesl puts her family before her. Her sacrifice is for the greater good. Unlike her sister who is fickle and a dreamer, Liesl is quick thinking, determined and is selfless. The Goblin King is very mysterious. Although he cares fondly about Liesl, he doesn't play by any rules. He doesn't make any promises because after all he is the Lord of Mischief. He is a very interesting and complex character and I would love to know more about his backstory. Twig and Thistle are quite the pairing. Both are attendants of Liesl when she is in the Underworld. They are blunt but they mean well. However, you can never fully trust goblins.

Wintersong is a dark yet lyrical fantasy novel. It's beautifully written. S. Jae-Jones writes a novel showcasing the power of love, music, the soul and freewill. You can hear the transcendent music resonate throughout the novel. S. Jae-Jones does a fantastic job creating a world which reminds me a little a bit of the The Labyrinth, "Little Red Riding Hood" and the Greek myth about Persephone. German folklore of the "Der Erlkönig" is also woven into this novel. I can even hear "Mein Herr" from Cabaret.

Wintersong teeters on the cusp of being Young Adult and New Adult. I would suggest teens 16 years and older to pick up this novel due to the sexual content in this book. I found that Liesl lusted after The Goblin King throughout the book which I fond very awkward and slightly disturbing. She pines for him all the time and cannot refrain herself. The pacing of the novel slowed down toward the second half of the book.

Wintersong is exquisite in every sense and it's definitely a book to read slowly and savor. If you're looking for a quick read, you might want to skip this one. If you're a reader who loves gorgeously written prose, this is a book for you! I highly suggest this novel to those who are entranced by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Caraval and The Star-Touched Queen.

For a magical experience, listen to the Edward Scissorhands soundtrack when reading Wintersong. It will give you goosebumps!

Liesl grew up on tales of the Goblin King. Tales spun by her grandmother and built on an old system of beliefs Leisl's own parents have long snubbed.

But when Liesl's own sister is taken by the Goblin King himself, she realizes the tales are all too true. Now it's up to her to sacrifice everything to save her beloved sister. But how can she outwit the ultimate trickster, much less one intent on finding and keeping a bride?

S. Jae-Jones combines elements of Labyrinth and the Persephone myth in her masterfully unique debut. But she turns both on their heads, basing it in an actual historical setting - well an actual historical setting for the pieces that take place in the "real" world, that is. And it's pretty cool, as well. Steeped in historical Austrian culture and music, the story makes use of folklore with a definite David Bowie leaning.

Liesl is the daughter of husband and wife innkeepers/musicians. But her father has long given over his own talent in lieu of the bottom of a bottle. Now the family fame and fortune rests squarely on the shoulders of Liesl's little brother, who is set to audition for a musician of extraordinary talent.

But Liesl has her own musical aspirations. Aspirations she keeps under lock and key and secret from everyone except her brother. Her hidden talents are what the Goblin King thirsts after. As it turns out (we learn in the prologue but it takes Liesl some time to remember), Liesl has known the Goblin King since she was a child.

But the Goblin King is a trickster. Liesl is the one he wants, but takes her sister as bait.

The imagery in Wintersong is amazing! The Underworld is at once beautiful and creepy, as evidence by the far away vs close looks at the decorations in Liesl's own chambers there. And again, the Goblin King is a trickster. But he allows Liesl herself to see the truth of things, increasing the horrors of the world tenfold.

For someone who grew up watching Labyrinth, the idea of a sort of Labyrinth retelling is awesomely appealing, but with understandable reservations. Readers, I have to say that S. Jae-Jones does the world and the legend justice, all the while making it 100% her own!

Wintersong is chillingly cool with just the right blend of dark fantasy and steamy romance to appeal to a broad audience.

A beautiful, lyrical story full of music. It is at the core about love, self, griwth and sacrifice. I loved it and was sad when it ended. The writing built the varued places with great skill and each character is deep, full of flaws and strength.

At 60% into this book, it hit me: this story is remarkably similar to The Star-Touched Queen but with a thousand references to classical music thrown in. While neither of these things are inherently bad, I have to say I never had any intention of <i>rereading</i> The Star-Touched Queen, nor do I have much interest in music. This book was simply a bad fit for me.

3.5 stars

This book is a riddled tale that is both intriguing and convoluted. It is like climbing a mountain where you see the peak and when you get there, it isn't the summit and it is only the final pages where questions are answered and things mostly make sense.

The man without a name, Der Erlkönig, the Goblin King, is the star of this show. He's elusive, inviting, mean-spirited and a lost soul. The timelessness of his nature is rather confusing and I suspect my own words in this review are slightly confusing as a result. However, I constantly wanted to know more about him, how he came to be, why he wanted Elizabeth and what his role in the underworld and the world above was.

Elizabeth, Leisl was also a great character. The sensible young woman within her family, understated and brushed-over. Yet, she had caught the eye of Der Erlkönig. I longed for a life of satisfaction and blossoming for Elizabeth.

This book left me somewhat unsatisfied with a sense of lack of completion and many questions about what could have been and what could happen later. The story was a little too elusive in narrative but the characters were so well developed. I enjoyed this but I wanted more.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for an honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

When Liesl was a girl she would go to the Goblin Grove to dance and play with the Goblin King. She eventually grew up and stopped going, pushed those memories into a dark place in her mind, and went on with her life, forgetting all about it. But when her beautiful younger sister disappears, she knows exactly who took her and is determined to get her back. She is willing to give up her life, her family, and her music to return her sister. Even if it means becoming the Goblin King's bride.

I was originally ecstatic about the idea of this book. I grew up watching The Labyrinth and fell in love with that movie. I never saw the Goblin King with a romantic interest but I can sort of see the appeal as an adult. I was a little disappointed to see that this isn't so much a retelling as it is an entirely new and different story with the Goblin King at the core. It is very loosely based on The Labyrinth in that it has a Goblin King as well as that a sibling is stolen and Liesl must play the King's games to get her back.

I did enjoy that it was it's own story but in the back of my mind I hoped for something a bit more like the movie, with it's crazy maze and creepy creatures. I was hoping for fantasy and got mostly romance instead. In a way, I really did enjoy it but my expectations got in the way a little. The story revolved around music and romance and I wanted something a little different, I think.

I didn't entirely relate to the MC and found her back and forth emotions to be a little exhausting. She started out as a great character. She had a hobby that she kept semi-private (composing), a deep loyalty to her family, and a wish to see her talented little brother become famous. But then her entire character seemed to flip flop and she became this entirely new person. Who she was with the Goblin King was entirely different than the character we were introduced to, it seemed.

Likewise, I had a hard time with the Goblin King. His character seemed to fluctuate from the devious man we know the Goblin King to be, to this entirely different, innocent boy that spent most of his time in a chapel praying to God. More often than not, he didn't seem like the Goblin King at all and it was definitely not what I was expecting.

There were times when the 'magic' of the underground felt a bit like a dream and that reminded me of the movie but overall, this story seemed to revolve around Liesl's music, her emotions, and the odd relationship between her and the Goblin King.
I would recommend to go into this with no expectations or at least none connected to the movie The Labyrinth.

So beautifully written, captivating & enthralling. I have never been so enthralled by such a beautiful piece of work. I just loved it. Love love loved it.

A beautifully written novel with multi-dimensional characters, exploring bravery, confidence and the love of family and music.

I really enjoy the book and the cover to it. Thanks for letting me read it.

I stumbled back and forth on this one as to whether to give it a 4 or 5 star review. There are amazingly wonderful things in these pages, but there was one element that left me a little short. Since I read this in one sitting (and wasn't intending to), I'm hitting the 5-stars. Anything that can grab my undivided attention, and leave me reading long after bedtime, deserves it.

This story rubs elbows with several other tales: Der Earlkoenig (a German poem from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe), the Labyrinth, and Hades/Persephone. What I appreciated--and was not expecting--was the poetic, dark beauty in the writing. The descriptions are simply a treat. The author brings a cruel, lovely, sinister and alluring world to life through elegant depictions and writing. Not only the familiar human world comes to life, but the Underworld with all of its quirks and oddities gains clarity and lures in. In other words, it's not the lightest read.

The story has depth, not action. The pacing is steady and tense due to character depth, decisions, self-discovery and emotions. The main character, Liesl, does run into danger a few times, and although these do create angst, this is not the style which dominates the story. I believe this is a book readers will love or dislike, and much of that is based on whether the reader connects to Liesl or not. She is the center of the plot--how she comes to terms with the task, the world, the Goblin King and, mainly, herself. Everything rotates around her relationship/attitude to the Goblin King. So if she, as a character, falls flat for the reader, than the plot doesn't have much of a chance.

That's my biggest problem with this book as well. I did find Liesl intriguing and thoroughly enjoyed the masks and layers of the Goblin King. But there weren't as many layers to the plot. The first half of the book promises more intrigue as the Goblin King lays his trap. The side characters are present and have a stronger interaction in the tale, offering various possibilities and angles. The second half, however, switches to a concentration on Liesl and the Goblin King with only shadows of other players involved. Liesl has only one direction she can basically head toward, and this narrows the possibilities for surprising layers or unknown twists down, making the second half a little deeper and slower than the first.

I received this book as a Fantasy for young adults (YA), but it does not come across as a YA read. Not only is Liesl slightly over the border age wise, but her sights are set on goals more associated with new adults (NA). The topics, themes and her desires lean toward an older audience and don't fall into the main YA stream.

Summed up, this was a read which pulls into a creepily poetic, beautiful world. The Goblin King is as dark, layered and mysterious as promised, and his realm comes to life with all sorts of horrible creatures and details. It's eerie, alluring and tempting. Fans of fairy tale re-tellings, the Labyrinth and dark, mythological undertones should definitely pick this one up and dive in.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review. I have a hard time getting into this book. The first 10% reminds me of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas because it's basically saying beware of the monsters.. do something to prevent it from coming.. putting salt around the house.. go into the woods.. etc.. then 17% into the book and all that music talk and virtuoso talks, I thought maybe the book is a retelling of Phantom of the Opera.. and then that Goblin King being a neighbor.. I find myself skipping through the narration and only reading the conversations.. even that.. I still find it hard to continue. I have decided not to read it further because I don't want to write a bad review and blast it all over the internet. This book is just not my cup of tea. How can they afraid of the Goblin King and do all that to prevent every year when he's a neighbor that Liesl plays with the whole time.

This story about goblins and music and romance has a good foundation, but I find it to be overwritten. What began as an engaging tale became exhausting 2/3 of the way through. Review from e-galley.

Written with lyrical prose, Wintersong vividly renders a coming-of-age tale inspired by fairy tale and classical music while giving a sly nod to Labyrinth, this is an exquisitely told tale of a heroine's journey.

Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

“Once there was a little girl who played her music for a little boy in the wood. She was small and dark, he was tall and fair, and the two of them made a fancy pair as they danced together, dancing to the music the little girl heard in her head.”

WINTERSONG is the story of a young woman who goes Underground to rescue her sister, only to find herself instead. What makes this story so compelling is all the wonderful elements entwined into Wintersong. There are echoes of Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera and Mozart. Poetry and myth, and the movie Labyrinth. 

Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti comes to mind first with its ominous tones and themes of temptation and, of course, those sly goblins. When Liesl makes a bargain with the Goblin King to rescue her sister from his Underground lair, the atmosphere and tone reminded me of Hades and Persephone. There, the Goblin King is so much more than it first seems and his relationship with Liesl is slowly and sensually revealed.
Many readers are going to find the nod to the 80’s cult classic movie Labyrinth vastly appealing with its dark and enchanting Underground world created by S. Jae-Jones and a Goblin King that is equal parts alluring, mysterious and dangerous. He is the epitome the wounded anti-hero who needs healing through a heroine’s love. 

“You are a man with music in his soul. You are capricious, contrary, contradictory. You delight in childish games, and delight even more in winning. For a man of such intense piety, you are surprisingly petty. You are a gentleman, a virtuoso, a scholar, and a martyr, and of those masks, I like the martyr least of all. You are austere, you are pompous, you are pretentious, you are foolish.”
The Goblin King did not reply.
“Well?” I asked. “Do I have the right of it?”
“Yes,” he said thickly. “Yes, you have the very soul of me, Elisabeth.”

Liesl is all sorts of complicated and the emotions she brings to the story simply drew me in making my connection to her real and heartfelt. The unbreakable bond of sisters, her love and loyalty to family, and her musical nature made her journey to the Underground something much more than a trip to save her sister but rather an awakening.

“I am,” I said slowly, “a girl with music in her soul. I am a sister, a daughter, a friend, who fiercely protects those dear to her. I am a girl who loves strawberries, chocolate torte, songs in a minor key, moments stolen from chores, and childish games. I am short-tempered yet disciplined. I am self-indulgent, selfish, yet selfless. I am compassion and hatred and contradiction. I am … me.”

Haunting, romantic, lyrical, hopeful and cruel, Wintersong should appeal to fans of dark fantasy and fairy tales. Written with a lush and sensual voice, Wintersong is recommended to readers who enjoyed The Star-Touched Queen, Cruel Beauty, A Thousand Nights and Stolen Songbird. I can’t wait for more and I’m crossing my fingers for a companion novel.