Where do I start with Wintersong? When I read the blurb, I thought that this book was going to be a rip off Labyrinth. Everything screamed it. But, as I got into the book, the more I understood that this was NOT a rip off Labyrinth. Instead, I got an excellent and mystical take on the Johan Wolfgang von Goethe’s poem “Erlkonig“.

Wintersong is set in close to turn of century Bavaria. The exact location where Liesl and her family lived was not discussed. Saying that I did think the author built a very rich and complex world around that village. I wish that more was discussed about the actual country itself.

The plot of Wintersong was interesting. Liesl has grown up with stories about The Goblin King. Her brother Josef and herself would escape from their duties and head to Goblin Hollow. There they would play music for The Goblin King. She grew up and started assuming more duties at the inn her family ran. Which meant that she didn’t have time for anything childish. One night, Liesl’s younger sister, Kathe, is taken away by the goblins. Liesl saves Kathe by agreeing to become The Goblin King’s bride. She soon realizes that there is more to The Goblin King than meets the eye. Decisions must be made if Liesl is to survive The Underground. Decisions that will affect everyone she has ever loved.

I was kind of iffish on Liesl when the book started. She came across as a jealous and a little bitter. But as the book wore on, I realized that it was not jealousy or bitterness. While she was happy for her siblings, she was aggravated that she would be the one stuck at the inn with her parents. Her character didn’t come fully to life until she went to The Underground. It was then that I got to see a different Liesl.

Out of the siblings, I liked Josef the best. He fought to get Liesl’s compositions recognized by their father. He wanted Liesl to be recognized as much as he was. Valued as much as he was. He hated to leave her but he had a chance to get out and he took it. Of course, there is a twist with him. A twist that I should have seen coming but didn’t. When The Goblin King revealed it, I was as surprised as Liesl was.

I didn’t like Kathe in the first half of the book. Talk about a self-centered, spoiled brat. She complained about marrying Hans. She complained that Liesl didn’t pay much attention to her. She snooped through Liesl’s things. When Liesl dared to reprimand her…..she didn’t listen to her at the market. It was her carelessness that started the events that made Liesl The Goblin King’s wife. I did get a sense of satisfaction when Kathe was crying because she was the only one who remembered Liesl. Just a little. Then I felt bad.

Where do I start with The Goblin King? He started off the book as this villainous entity. But, as the book went on and more was revealed about him, the more human he became. But, even when he reveals everything to Liesl, he remained an enigma. That isn’t a bad thing. It makes me even more curious to read book 2.

Music was a huge factor in this story. Liesl was a secret composer and could play the violin. Josef was a violin prodigy. Their father used to play for the King in Salzburg. The Goblin King played. If there had to be a soundtrack to this book, I would say it would be almost all violin music and maybe some Bavarian folk songs.

I also liked the nod to Greek mythology once Liesl was in The Underground. I was comparing that part of the book to the myth of Hades and Persephone. Persephone is kidnapped by Hades, brought underground. Her mother Demeter was inconsolable and stopped everything from growing. Persephone convinced Hades to let her go above ground for a few months so that things would grow and thrive. Then she would go back underground and her mother would stop things from growing. The other nod to Greek mythology involved the Sirens and the River Styx. When Liesl goes to make her escape from The Underground, she has to cross a river that reminded me of the River Styx. In this river lived The Lorelei. The Lorelei were like the Sirens. They lured people to their death with their music. Like the Sirens.

I do wish that more background information was given on the goblins. I enjoyed reading about them but felt that their back story was lacking a bit. I hope that more is explained about them in the next book.

The romance aspect of the book did creep me out at first. I mean, The Goblin King has to kidnap women to get them to marry him. There is an alternative reason that is shared later in the book which took the creep factor out. But until then, I was like “Eh.”

The end of Wintersong made me cry. I don’t know if they were happy tears or sad tears.They were a mixture of both. All of the storylines were ended in a way that satisfied me. There was enough given so that the 2nd book could be written. I am hoping to read book 2. I need to find out what will happen to The Goblin King and Liesl.

Pros of Wintersong:

A) A strong female main character

B) Excellent references to Greek mythology

C) Strong musical theme throughout the book

Cons of Wintersong:

A) Kidnapping of brides

B) Not enough background on the goblins

C) Kathe (in the beginning and middle of the book)

I would give Wintersong a rating of Older Teen. There are sexual situations but the author (who wrote this for her 16 year old) was very vague. There is an orgy scene that is vague but you know what is going on. There is no foul language. There is some mild violence. Considering this, I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

The only trigger warning I would give Wintersong is kidnapping. Other than that, it is trigger free.

Wintersong is a book that I would definitely recommend to family and friends. I would include a warning about the mild sexual situations and mild violence. I would also reread Wintersong.

I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Wintersong.

All opinions stated in this review of Wintersong are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This book was not what I expected, and not in a good way. I initially received a copy of the second book in the series for review and needed to read the first one. I was able to get a copy of the first one through NetGalley (thank you!) and I forced myself to get through it quickly. I do not DNF books, I just take forever to complete ones I do not fully enjoy. This is one of those unfortunately. I really initially enjoyed the idea of the book, but then it seemed like all the ideas were in the book.

Side thought I am still trying to get clarification on, the German in this book I do not think was used correctly. I am just starting to learn the language and some of the words, and the sentence, it just didn't seem fully accurate? I am not too sure though.

Wintersong has gorgeous writing, and it reads like a fairy tale. While going through the story, it felt like a familiar tale, with retelling of stories we know, but rewritten to something darker, more seducing. I immediately want to buy the hardcover copy of this duology and read it there, because this certainly made to my favorite books I’ve read so far. The romance was twisted in the beginning, and it became more loving and not abusive by the end of it. Because it’s a fairy tale and the love interest has been so far from his humanity, I was okay with it, but if you have problems reading this kind of “angsty” relationship, maybe skip this book.

The world building was beautiful, and I loved so much the constant musical theme of this book and added some of the mentioned music to my playlist. It’s juts so beautiful, and listening to classical music while reading this is SO perfect. It was also a perfect read for a cold, snowy day.

I don’t think this book is for the very young adults, despite it being a YA. Maybe 16+.

From the reviews I’ve seen, Wintersong is a hit or miss with lots of people. To enjoy this book, I think you need to like dark fairy tales, romances, trickery and a touch of gothic.

What I Liked

This book just felt like I was reading magic. As soon as I opened up my ebook I was sucked into the book and I could not put it down. I think I read this in a total of only 3 sittings. The main reason behind it was due to the characters. I really enjoyed Liesl and as the book went on I liked her even more. She was real because she had her faults. I hate when a character is just too perfect, it makes the story seem so fake. Another reason was the descriptions, S. Jae Jones paints the settings so well. I could close my eyes and feel like I could see everything. This book just swallowed me whole, it invoked real emotions from me and broke my heart. While I would love to keep gushing, I am a bit afraid I would end up spoiling some things for you. Bottom line is, the characters are well written and the world is vivid and beautiful.

What I Didn’t Like

The one thing that was a problem only some of the time was the pacing. At times it did feel slow, but this was not a constant issue in the plot. Even though it is not a constant, it is worth noting before jumping into this book.

Overall Thoughts

I ended up very much enjoying this book. I plan on eventually picking up the next book in the series. It delivered on is promise of adventure, brave young women, and a lot of heartache. Between her feelings for her sister and what she needs goes through as she goblin realm there is a lot going on in this book. Overall if you enjoy retellings and fantasy, this book is for you.

Book Information

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Publication Date: February 7th 2017

List Price: $18.99

ISBN: 9781250079213

Pages: 436 pages

I want to note that I received this book from Netgalley for this review. My review is honest and all thoughts are my own.

Wintersong was a haunting story with elements of folklore and romance. While the obsession with music and the musical terminology sometimes seemed heavy-handed sometimes overwhelmed the story, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were rich, and the world building was sublime. I was saddened by the trials of the characters and compelled to keep reading to find out what would happen.

I kept picturing David Bowie as Jareth from the movie The Labyrinth whenever reading about the Goblin King. YUM. I wish the goblins would come and take ME away right now!

This is an amazing book, and I love how beautiful the world building is. I couldn't put it down, and I'm greatly looking forward to reading the next one in the series. Hard to believe that amazing book is the author's debut!

I really loved this book. I finished it a few weeks ago and my head is still stuck in that world. The main character's sister is kidnapped by the Goblin King and has no other option but to attempt to save her. It was so interesting to see the main character grow and change as the book progressed. I cannot wait to start the next book!

Much like Kathe's relationship with the Goblin King, my reaction to Wintersong was a weird mix of both love and hate. Maybe I just loved how much I hated it? But I didn't hate it all, I actually stayed up late into the night to finish it. I'm confused, but so is Kathe so at least I'm in good company.

Wintersong is part fantasy, part horror, part romance, and nearly as dark and mysterious as the Goblin King himself. I liked it a lot...I think.

This book was billed as a cross between the film Labyrinth and Naomi Novik's Uprooted and yeah, that's a pretty spot-on comparison. Throw in a little bit of Beauty and the Beast and lots of classical music and German folklore and you've got Wintersong.

The author states on this Goodreads page that she wrote this for her 16-year-old self and I think that is exactly the age group for this book. I rated it 4 stars because my adult self would give it a 3, but I know my 16-year-old self would have given this a solid 5 stars.

The Plot: Elisabeth is the daughter of a washed-up musician living in a small village way out in the woods. She grew up playing music and games in the woods with a mysterious boy who said he was the Goblin King. Now as an adult, she has dismissed those as childhood fantasy and settled into a life of drudgery taking care of her family, while secretly pursuing her passion of writing music. Then the Goblin King shows up looking for a bride and everything changes. Elisabeth faces the biggest decision of her life, choosing between the family she loves and the chance to truly be herself and pursue her passion.

The Pros: I really love the detail that went into this story. The author creates a realistic setting. This could easily have been a shallow retelling of other stories, but Jae-Jones makes it her own by building a world that feels real. I also like the character of Elisabeth - she's got a strong personality and she's not a perfect protagonist. She's difficult and prickly and doesn't always act like a stereotypical heroine, but all of that makes her seem more like a real person than an archetype and it makes her sacrifices more meaningful in the end.

The Cons: I thought the story could have been tightened up a tad. The first half is beautifully paced, with lots of mystery and adventure, and the relationship between Elisabeth and her sister is fascinating. Then in the second half, it turns into an angsty paranormal romance and following the characters as their issues get in the way of their relationship feels like a drag at times. They rehash the same conflicts repeatedly, and when they finally open up to each other, their "secrets" don't really seem worthy of all that drama. I also never quite got the Goblin King's characters. It's clear there are two aspects to him that are in conflict, but I didn't feel like the "human" side was ever fleshed out enough for me to understand who he was or become invested in him as a love interest for a heroine who is so vivid in her personality.

The Takeaway: Although it dragged a bit in the end, I enjoyed the human characters and the setting enough that I will most likely read the second book in this duology. I'm optimistic that with Elisabeth out of the Underground and back in the world, with a new mystery to solve, the story will return to more engaging plotlines and pacing.

I'm only a little way through this book and I'm not sure I can finish. I love the writing -- it's superb -- but I'm not sure if I can continue with the main character. She's just so jealous of her sister...and too much time in the beginning of the book is spent admiring Kathe (her little sister). It's even to the point where it's almost like she's crossing a bit of a line? It's just so off putting...but the prose is to die for!

I liked this story. I’m so glad the sequel is out, so I can read it right away.

I liked the references to Christina Rossetti’s poetry throughout the book. The story is based on her poem “The Goblin Market.” But it also has a lot of the themes from Beauty and the Beast as well.

Liesl’s music was a great backdrop to the story. It was realistic that she was a great composer but her brother was the one to get the credit, just because he was a boy. I loved that music was able to unite people of all different backgrounds.

One thing that frustrated me was Liesl’s relationship with the Goblin King. They did a lot of pointless bickering. They had the same arguments over and over. It was annoying because I was rooting for Liesl to be happy, either with him or without him.

I liked this story, and I recommend it for YA fantasy fans.

Wasn't sure if I was going to actually like this one or not but surprisingly I do actually like it, the entire time I was reading it I kept seen David Bowie as the Goblin king himself, it was easy to just full into the story .can't wait to read book 2, With that said thinks Netgalley for letting me read and review Wintersong and for letting me fell all over again in love with the one and only Goblin king himself David Bowie.

I've been reading this for damn near two months and I just can't get invested in the characters. The prose is beautiful and all the chapters set before Liesl went to the Underground had me interested (God, did I love her and her brother's performance), but over time, that interest just kinda waned. I got to page 203 and decided I was done. My heart absolutely wasn't in it.

I received a copy of Wintersong by S. Jae Jones thru Net Galley for an honest review. I truly, truly enjoyed this tale woven by S. Jae Jones. Wintersong weaves a tale of family bonds, strong among siblings, and bonds that a forged thru curiosity and love. How far and what will Leisl do in order to keep her sister Käthe safe? The Goblin King or Der Erlkönig only asks one thing of her, to which the spell that her sister is under will be over and she, Leisl, her entire being over to the Goblin King. Wintersong in itself is a wondrous novel. I loved that the music played such an important part because music is a passion of Liesl’s and one she cannot share with the world. When the Goblin King takes her to his underground, it (music) becomes a bigger part of her. The way S. Jae incorporates music thru out the novel makes it stand out, along with the world building. I felt as if I was watching a movie rather than reading a book. I cried for Leisl as she truly and finally understood what was going on. I cried for the Goblin King, for he tried to distance himself from her, but he couldn’t and within him, gave her a wondrous gift.
Thank you S. Jae Jones for writing a unique story, one that incorporates the love of music in such a way, I swear, I heard the melodies in my head.

This book is the movie Labyrinth meets Beauty and the Beast, set in Germany where the heroine loves music instead of books. The characters were well developed and the world beautifully built. I liked Liesel and the Goblin King. I was also annoyed and endeared by her siblings. And the craziness of the Underground was intriguing. The problem was it should’ve been at least a hundred pages shorter. There was an immense amount of repetition. We got right away, Kathe is the pretty one, the father was a alcoholic abusive jerk, Josef is “different”, and the grandmother is not senile but knowing. It’s not like there was so much going on one could forget. Also Liesel’s life was dull both above and below ground. Life is monotonous, but I personally don’t need to experience the daily routine of any character when it doesn’t seem to change. That is what montages are for. Also, and this may seem nitpicky, but the word queer was so overused. I’m just saying if so many things and instances are labeled queer, then don’t they instead become common place? Synonyms would’ve been nice.

That being said I did enjoy the book overall, and I will be reading the next book. I do want to know what happens to everyone. Since it is a duology the next book will be the end so even if I do find myself trapped in repetitiveness it will be easier to get through with that knowledge.

This was a really fun folk tale story about a woman who falls in love with the Goblin King. It was a quick read, very enchanting and the characters were well drawn. Some themes were a little overdone, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Before being offered a chance to download and read this from Netgalley, I was intrigued by the many posts in my GR news feed about this enchanting book with the beautiful and mysterious cover. PURE COVER LOVE! I did not request it as it is quite a long book and wanted to stick with shorter books. Then...(recently) I got a note in my email to read and download it if I would like. I could not resist!!! I am so glad I did take advantage of the offer. It's quite an adventure full of surprises.

This is a love story between 19 year old Liesl and the Lord of the Underground. It's dark, haunting, obsessive, and twisted. Those adjectives don't always go together I know. Not in a good way that is. Wintersong is not the type of novel I usually seek out, tho I do love gothics...and it has many of those elements. But...mostly it has so much depth and emotion; it draws you in and holds you tight. It's hard to think of anything else but these characters. A strong and kind goblin queen, a legend...a goblin king, goblin lore, magic, enchantment, sacrifice; Fantasy at it's best!

This is a great escape. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy dark fantasy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to read in exchange for a review. I will read the second book. I am very invested in these characters. I admit I wanted a different ending...but after a few days to think about it, I realize it is the best ending. I hope to pick up the next book soon.

*I received a free copy of this ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 stars.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the writing is rich and imaginative. The musical elements added much to the story and the characters. It plays a little bit on the Hades/Persephone myth (which I always love). But there's something about it that just . . . I don't know. It's like it would pull me in for a while and then kind of lose me to another book that I'm reading for a little while. Certain elements of the story felt somewhat circular, like they were almost repeating.

The characters themselves were all right. Wow, I suddenly can't remember the protagonist's name. Ah, Elizabeth. That's right. I liked her, and I didn't. I can't quite put my finger on why that is, though. Prior to this, my only exposure to Der Erlkönig is the piece by Franz Schubert, which I've always liked. And I can sort of see how they tie together. I'd like to read more about the mythology now, though. I think my biggest problem with the relationship between Elizabeth and the Goblin King is that they seemed to have two connections: music and sex. They spent the book alternating between those two and basically sulking separately. (Recall what I said about the circular elements of the story.) At the end of the book, we have a protagonist who is more confident of herself and her abilities, and we have a Goblin King who has become more humanized in the reader's view.

The end of the book left me wondering what happens in the sequel (so I do plan to read it), but at least I'm not on the edge of my seat. I have some suspicions; we'll see what happens.

Note: I can't recall if there was swearing. A few sex scenes, but none of them were particularly graphic. Mostly things like thoughts, emotions, and music were described rather than physical action. I'm pretty sure this is marketed as young adult, but I would have been uncomfortable reading this as a teenager.

Wintersong starts out strong but ends in a whimper.
Liesl has grown from the young girl who played in The Goblin Grove when she was a child. She no longer believes the stories her grandmother told her about the Goblin King and instead focusing on helping her brother with her music. But when her sister disappears, she must realize that all those old tales were true and the only way to save her family is to marry the Goblin King. Liesl plays his games but will the King play fair?
The first third of the novel is compelling. The scenery is beautiful and the Goblin King is mysterious. But as the story drags on the world is just more and more description of the Underworld and less action. The two main characters talk about the same things over and over circling around. Even when action springs up again it is short lived and back to the circular love theme. The ending was predictable but not well explained. While there is a sequel that may answer some of my questions, I have no interest in reading another book in the series.
Wintersong has lovely wrapping but nothing solid at it's heart.

Full of wonder, magic, and music, Wintersong is a visual fairytale without the fairies. A story told through the eyes and heart of Elisabeth and her selfless sacrifice for her sister. Or was her sacrifice as selfless as first perceived?
In Wintersong reader’s will see a theme of lyrics, love, lust, liberation, and limbo between a quickly expiring childhood and an uncertain future. Elisabeth’s insecure and emotionally disrupted nature shaken after being the willing hostage of her childhood crush turned Goblin King of the mysterious, carefully shrouded, rearranging, and mystical underworld. She becomes the Queen to the brooding King and somehow the power of the position awakens new reserves of strength and confidence within the girl everyone always overlooked. With insecurities nearly tucked away by the power of music, melodies, and royalty, surprisingly Elisabeth may just find what she is looking for….fulfillment in song and adventure!
The Goblin King is a cross between a debonair ghost from Elisabeth’s past and a villain willing to hold a young maiden captive to his command in his underworld kingdom of magic. He is so perfectly described as, “…standing in a far corner of the main hall, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. The tall, elegant stranger. The Goblin King. He was the still point around which everything revolved. He was reality where everything else was a reflection.

Der Erlkönig, Lord of Mischief, Ruler of the Underground? How did one address a legend?”

Although, the lingering childishness of Elisabeth puts a bad spin on this King the Lord of Mischief, he’s really not a bad guy. I truly believe that he loved her before that fateful night. (No worries, No spoilers 😉)
This story harkens back to the tale of Beauty and the Beast given that the female protagonist offers herself in exchange for a loved one to be freed from the paws of controlling individual. The Goblin King intrigued me perhaps the most of any character in Wintersong. His brooding, dark, mysterious, larger than life, and sexually charged presence was just the love interest for young Elisabeth that this book needed. And yet music was her one true love till the end.

I give Wintersong ✨✨✨✨ (4 Stars)!!

Takeaway Quotes:

• “No, no, no, I think. Don’t push me away. Light my fire. Make me burn. But the Goblin King doesn’t push me away. He grips me closer, and I am met.”
• “In the world above, it had always been Käthe or Josef who captivated people’s eyes and hearts—Käthe with her beauty, Josef with his talent. I was forgotten, overlooked, ignored—the plain, drab, practical, talentless sister. But, here in the Underground, I was the sun around which their world spun, the axis around which their maelstrom twirled. Liesl the girl had been dull, drab, and obedient; Elisabeth the woman was a queen.”
• “Elisabeth,” he said. “I abstain because I do care—…This is not you entire,” he said. “This is you, desperate.”
• A choice. He gives a choice, and it is the truest gift he has ever given me. “Yes.” My voice is clear. “My answer is yes.”
As long as the world above remembers you.
• 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.
• I turned around. His eyes deepened in color and for a moment, just for the merest glimpse, I could see what he would have been like as a mortal man. If he had been allowed to live the course of his life, from the child he had been to the man he would have become. A musician—a violinist. I ran back into the circle of alder trees, wanting the circle of his arms around me. I reached out my hands, and his fingers brushed mine, but we passed through each other like water, like a mirage. We were each nothing but a shimmering illusion, a candle flame we could not hold.

~ The Novel Gent 😎