Daughter of Winter and Twilight

A big thank you to O'Brien Press and Helen Corcoran for sending me an ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a big fan of Queen of Coin and Whispers from the moment I read it first back during the first lockdown of 2020. What's not to love? Determined queens, even more determined soy masters, intrigue, love, murder plots... It hit all the right spots for me. Which is why I was both super excited for this book and super worried. I mean, how could Corcoran follow up the absolute perfection of the first book?

Reader, I needn't have feared.

Daughter of Winter and Twilight can be read as a standalone - though I urge you to pick up the first book because it's fantastic. It features a world where queerness is a simple fact of life, not something to be an angsty plot point where the main character has to overcome stigma and intolerance, which was just so satisfyingly refreshing to read. Emri is queer, and so are her parents - Lia and Xania, the Queens of Edar - and her friends. We get introduced to non-binary characters and it's never something to be gawked at, just a simple fact of life.

It took me a little while to warm up to Emri, as it usually does with new characters, but once I did I rooted for her through the whole book. She faces her challenges with grace - and yes, fear and anger and heartbreak and self-pity at times which is absolutely wonderful to read because it makes her human! - and always strives to be the best heir to the throne she can be.

The character who I really fell in love with, however, was Melisande. At first she seems like a typical Cool Girl but I adored her relationship with Emri, how she fought to stand by her cousin and never let her hand go during the moments that really mattered. Gabi and Theo, the other heirs to the thrones who get roped into Emri's quest, are fully fleshed and I'm not going to lie, I would love to read a whole book about an older Gabi who rules her queendom.

Magic was dormant, never dead - that tag line really sets you up for this novel. Goddesses are real and they are inhuman, merciless and they want the recognition they (think) they deserve. Lady Winter is one hell of a scary chatacter, gives me major Lady Dimitrescu vibes.

Big, big fan of this book, make sure to preorder a copy!

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is coming out on September 4, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great sequel and I really enjoyed this novel. The storytelling was wonderful and I look forward to more books from Helen Corcoran.

Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran is a gripping YA fantasy novel that is sure to keep readers engaged from beginning to end. Set in a world where magic is dormant but not dead, the story follows Emri, an adopted daughter of two queens who are about to come of age and face changes beyond her control.

The plot takes a surprising turn when Emri and her estranged cousin Melisande are attacked by a magical force and transported to a mountain temple, where they are held captive along with other young royals. There, they must complete Lady Winter's trials or face certain death. The story is full of twists and turns, and the characters are well-developed and relatable.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is the world-building. Corcoran has created a rich and detailed world that is both familiar and unique. The way magic is integrated into the story is particularly interesting, as it is not the all-powerful force we often see in fantasy novels, but rather a dormant energy that must be awakened and harnessed.

Overall, Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a well-written, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable read. It is a must-read for fans of YA fantasy, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and immersive reading experience.

Thank you to O'Brien Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for a review!

I had read the first book, but it has been some time by now. My memory was fuzzy, but I don't think this hurt my enjoyment at all. I enjoyed Daughter of Winter and Twilight far more than I had the previous book. Emri, though a princess who is aware and accepting of her responsibilities, is hurting under the mantle that is relatable to so many children today: we will never be able to achieve what our parents did.

In our case, it might be stability in jobs or an adult life. In Emri's case, it's a grand love story that's the stuff of legends. The story of her mothers' love for each other is near-myth-- and Emri is only a girl compared to that; and close kin to one mother's usurping, traitorous cousin at that. Emri's accepted she's not the myth material her mothers are, and she accepts her arranged marriage, and tries to make nice with her cousin-heir from her abusive childhood before her mothers.

There's only one problem with that: the gods exist, and they want belief back. Emri must work together with her cousin she cannot trust, her betrothed she knows little about, and his ferociously protective younger cousin who trusts Emri and her cousin not at all. If they cannot escape together, Emri's heart and will are forfeit and her cousin (heir both to her own kingdom and Emri's), her betrothed, and his cousin (heir to another kingdom) die.

This is not a romance, but it is a growing of relationships. And I truly enjoyed it.

Thank you to O'Brien Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for a review!

I had read the first book, but it has been some time by now. My memory was fuzzy, but I don't think this hurt my enjoyment at all. I enjoyed Daughter of Winter and Twilight far more than I had the previous book. Emri, though a princess who is aware and accepting of her responsibilities, is hurting under the mantle that is relatable to so many children today: we will never be able to achieve what our parents did.

In our case, it might be stability in jobs or an adult life. In Emri's case, it's a grand love story that's the stuff of legends. The story of her mothers' love for each other is near-myth-- and Emri is only a girl compared to that; and close kin to one mother's usurping, traitorous cousin at that. Emri's accepted she's not the myth material her mothers are, and she accepts her arranged marriage, and tries to make nice with her cousin-heir from her abusive childhood before her mothers.

There's only one problem with that: the gods exist, and they want belief back. Emri must work together with her cousin she cannot trust, her betrothed she knows little about, and his ferociously protective younger cousin who trusts Emri and her cousin not at all. If they cannot escape together, Emri's heart and will are forfeit and her cousin (heir both to her own kingdom and Emri's), her betrothed, and his cousin (heir to another kingdom) die.

This is not a romance, but it is a growing of relationships. And I truly enjoyed it.

Queen of Coin and Whispers was one of my standout books of 2020, so when Helen announced Daughter of Winter and Twilight and the]at it would be focusing on the daughter of Lia and Xania I was understandably very excited.

I jumped into the story knowing exactly that much about what to expect and maybe it having some link to the midwinter festivities from the first book. I was immediately transported, Emri is as angry and brittle as her parents were at her age as she struggles with her feelings, her heart, her friends and expectations. The story really takes off however when her cousin arrives.

Dragging up trauma from her childhood as she has to navigate the visit of a foreign heir on top of everything else before she is unwilling dragged off on a quest by gods long thought dead with her potential fiancé, her cousin, and the heir to neighbouring Eshvon.

Their band of unwilling allies makes for gripping reading as they are slowly forced to confront the very worst of themselves. I love the gentle, and tentative way the four bond with each other as they bond through their past and current traumas.

I was also delighted to see how Lia and Xania have grown and evolved since the end of Coin and Whispers, they are 20 years older and have grown and Corcoran brilliantly and realistically crafts how they deal with their own past even as this new event ruptures their lives. She beautifully blends traditional quest fantasy with political fantasy in a touching and personal story that I found myself dreaming about - especially the “map”- my brain got stuck on that one one night.

I would love to see more stories in this world and I’m so excited for my copy of this to arrive!

Let me just preface this by saying that I absolutely love Queen of Coin and Whispers, so naturally, Daughter of Winter and Twilight was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, and it did not disappoint. I was hooked from the first page, I thoroughly enjoyed returning to this intricately built world, seeing the familiar places in a different light and discovering so many new details about the world.
Helen Corcoran created wonderfully layered characters—the main cast stole my heart and I loved seeing them develop throughout the course of the book. I cannot talk about the characters without mentioning Lia and Xania, who were one of the many highlights of the book for me. Seeing them again fourteen years after the events of Queen of Coin and Whispers, watching them navigate queenship, motherhood and their relationship was delightful. This brings me to another highlight: the relationships between the characters. This book explored many relationships—between mothers and their daughters, estranged cousins or among a group of young royals, and each one was touching and beautifully written.
With intricate worldbuilding, layered characters and a gripping plot, Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a very enjoyable and moving read that I would recommend to all YA Fantasy readers.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and The O'Brien Press for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed with premise of this book. It was a very interesting story, however some of the world building was a bit disjointed. Overall though I did enjoyed this book, especially as a follow up to Queen of Coin and Whispers.

this was a strong sequel to the Queen of Coin and Whispers book, I enjoyed how good the story was and how it worked in the fantasy genre. The characters felt like the same people from the previous book. Helen Corcoran has a great writing style and I enjoyed getting back to this universe.

Darker and more mature than Queen, and a lovely sequel to Queen.
I was happy to come back to this universe and discover a new part of the map, as well as a new cast of characters

Thanks to NetGalley and O'Brien Press for providing the ARC.

Taking place many years after the first book, and it did not disappoint! This story follows our previous MC's daughter, Emri. I loved Queen of Coin and Whispers and that we still got glimpses of Lia and Xania. But Emri is not their mothers' daughter, and in more ways than one.

The world-building is expanded as we learn more about the forgotten Gods and follow Emri and a few key royals on an epic adventure.

4.5!

Helen Corcoran's "Daughter of Winter and Twilight" is a captivating YA fantasy novel that promises to captivate readers from start to finish. In a world where magic lies dormant but not extinguished, the narrative revolves around Emri, a young woman adopted by two queens. The story takes an unexpected twist when Emri and her cousin Melisande are ambushed by a powerful magical entity and transported to a secluded mountain temple. Trapped alongside other young royals, they are held captive and forced to confront Lady Winter's perilous trials, with their lives hanging in the balance. Throughout the book, the plot unfurls with enthralling surprises, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, while the characters are crafted with depth and believability, making them relatable and compelling. I loved this and was so intrigued by the world building aspect!

This was a solid sequel/companion novel to Queen of Coin and Whispers. I really liked the setting of Edar in the first book, and it was nice to get some insight into the other countries in this world. One thing that I surprised myself with liking about Queen of Coin and Whispers was the lack of magic. It reminded me a lot of The Winner's Curse, where you only have to focus on the political intrigue since there's no magic system to learn. This book brings back dormant magic, but the focus remains on the political and interpersonal relationships among the heirs to the four kingdoms. I liked Emri, and Melisande really grew on me. I do think that the situation they, along with the other two heirs, were in, served as more of a plot device to develop Emri's character. This is a very character-driven book, rather than a plot-driven one, especially compared to the first book. Speaking of the first book, I loved seeing Lia and Xania again! I do wish there had been more Matthias, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and O'Brien Press for the ARC.of Daughter of winter and twilight by Helen Corcoran.

A beautiful and solid sequel.

After I liked the first book of the author, I was eager to read more. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the sequel in advance!

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is about Emri, adopted daughter of Queen Aurelia and Xania from the first book. Because Emri’s birth father was a traitor, she faces a lot of scrutiny at court and struggles to find her footing. Even more, she is still suffering from the effects of her abusive childhood before she was adopted and, on top of that, a recent heartbreak. If that wasn’t enough, rumors appear about the resurrection of the gods. However, Emri’s nation has long since abandoned worship of the gods and their patron goddess, Lady Winter, is not known for her mercy.

Even though it has been a few months since I read what happened in the first book, it was easy to find my way into the story. I can see how it is meant to stand alone, which certainly helped. The beginning focuses a lot on Emri’s life in the palace and I appreciate these insights a lot. She is a sympathetic character and made me curious about unveiling her past and the way her character is going to develop.

Unfortunately, the book takes its time with that. It’s not until the second third that the promised magic starts to be relevant. As much as I liked the beginning, it felt like it took forever to get anywhere. Both plot threads - Emri’s introduction to court and the challenge of her god - feel disjointed. Reason for that is that it includes a very sudden switch in setting and all the previous characters are replaced (with one exception) with new ones. There isn't much to connect those two parts of the book.

In addition to that, I felt like the overall goal of the plot wasn’t very clear. It makes sense in hindsight and ties in to the themes, but it still felt like there was only little initial motivation for the characters (including the gods). Emri and her companions react more than they act, which does fit very well into the overarching questions of the book - how independent are your choices when you are being manipulated by gods? Still, it takes a while to figure out those motives which doesn't make the pacing feel any faster.

Aside from those negative aspects, I still liked the book a lot! Emri’s personal growth and her relationships to the other characters feel authentic. The way she adapts to the new environment and how she is forced to face her fears kept pulling me in. I loved seeing their little group grow together and was sorry to say goodbye to them at the end of the book.

Compared to the first book, this one leans more into the worldbuilding. The other nations become relevant, not only in their politics but also in their myths an stance on religion. I liked those glimpes in their cultures, mostly because they influences the main plot as well. The focus is less on one country and its queen, but rather a group of heirs from different countries and how they each deal with the differing expectations that rest upon them.

In the end, I recommend this sequel for anyone who liked the first book or who wants to dip their toes into this world but is too intimidated by the politics of the first one! Pacing problems aside, I was able to enjoy Daughter of Winter and Twilight a lot.

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a beautifully-crafted atmospheric YA fantasy. It picks up a little while after Queen of Coin and Whispers ended and features Lia and Xania’s adoptive daughter. While reading the first book can provide a little bit more understanding of these characters and this world, it isn’t necessary. Daughter of Winter and Twilight stands up just fine on its own, and recaps enough of the first book’s events that if you forgot everything (like me), it’s easy to catch up.

In this book, Emri is grappling with the intricacies of foreign politics as her cousin, Melisande, visits court. Those problems are quickly replaced by much bigger ones, though, when both heirs are ripped from the castle and thrust into a magical adventure assembled by ancient gods.

One of the reasons I think I enjoyed this book more than the first is that Helen Corcoran has clearly grown as a writer. Her voice is more clear, her characters more unique, and the story more interesting. I don’t remember how much Queen of Coin and Whispers described the setting, but Daughter of Winter and Twilight goes a bit deeper into the world building. I understood the world better and found it easier to follow the story in this book.

That being said, the plot did have its ups and downs. It would have almost been better as a standalone, without the connection to Queen, because this series didn’t really need magic. The politics in the first book were interesting enough on their own, and the new addition of magic and gods to this world felt a tiny bit forced. I did love the whole facing-their-past theme of the book, though, and the way the characters slowly unraveled the tensions between them and confronted the traumas and mistakes of their pasts was very fascinating. And I did enjoy the gods. I thought the concepts behind them were interesting, and I liked the distinctive personalities tied to their domains.

Speaking of characters, that is another one of Corcoran’s strengths. I loved glimpsing Lia and Xania’s life as a happy ruling couple, the awkwardness between Emri and Theo, and the tension between her and Melisande. Every character was unique, with stories and personalities that all tied together as they struggled through their little mountain quest. (I also adored Gabi, as grumpy as she was.)

To conclude; this book was very good. The casual queer representation (even without a major romance storyline!) was lovely to see, and the story and world were both very unique. If you enjoy politics, mythology, and icy worlds (like The Winter Duke), you’ll enjoy this one.

Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran

Thank you Netgalley for an arc for an unbiased review.

This is a follow on from the book Queen of coin and Whispers. Like that book, it is set firmly in the Fantasy YA bracket, and I feel it does that category justice. Furthermore, as someone very much out of that group on age, I was still able to settle in and enjoy this.
Xania and Lia do feature, but this book is much more about their adopted daughter Emri, who navigates the visit of an estranged cousin, Melisande as well as other trials and tribulations.
Like Queen of Coin and Whispers, this is a book that not everyone will enjoy. It doesn't have the highest stakes, or necessarily the highest fantasy settings. This book is very character driven, and I love the intricacies that it brings. Particularly watching how it unfolds as characters begin to face past trauma and mistakes. As well as how present actions impact now.
We also once again get that queer representation, that is beautifully brought in as just part of who they are. That certainly doesn't mean it is too casual.
I felt the book overall was brought together by beautiful prose, with achingly beautiful atmosphere and characters.
As I say, I recognise this style of book isn't necessarily for everyone, but I felt this was a worthy successor to Queen of Coin and Whispers and I'm happy to recommend and give 5/5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for a review!

I went into this book without realizing that there had been a book before it, and I only found out after I had finished this book. I never felt as if I were missing something, so I think this book stands on its own for anyone just picking it up.

What I liked about this book: I enjoyed that the characters were not all heterosexual- sexuality seemed to be more fluid, and from what I remember, I did not see any negativity connected to it. Characters felt free to love who they wanted, and I loved that. I enjoyed that there was more to the story than the quest that the characters were on- there was focus on the traumas and mending relationships between characters, and not so much focus on romance, though that was there, too.

My biggest gripe was with the quest that the main character is set on. It did feel a little bit like the characters were just going through the motions of their quest, and it didn't feel as if there was a sense of urgency. The quest seemed a bit convoluted, and I had some trouble keeping up with it. It seemed a bit unrealistic that they would receive so much help from other gods and I sort of got the impression that they characters would not have been able to achieve much without some help along the way.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this story a lot and would be interested in reading more of this series.

Thank you Helen Corcoran, The O’Brien Press Paperback and NetGally for a copy of this arc.

Full disclosure, I did not know this was a sequel when I started. From what I understand the first book is about the parents of our FMC and I have no doubt the first book would have assisted in the world building and history of the royal families but it wasn’t needed to follow the story.

Princess Emri is the adopted daughter of the Queens of Edaran, she is also the biological daughter of the dead usurper who stole her mothers throne. While Emri is coming to terms with what it means to be heir to the Edaran throne, her estranged cousin Princess Melisande comes to court. Both young princesses are stolen away by magical forces and come face to face with the long forgotten goddess, Lady Winter. All the myths and legends of old are true, magic and the might of the Gods are real. Trapped in an ancient temple under a mountain, Emir and Melisande will need to work together with fellow royals Gabi and Theo to stay alive and complete the trials set my Lady Midnight.

The first 40% of this one I found really slow but once the plot got moving a lot was fit into the last 60%. I really enjoyed the relationships between our 4 royals Emri, Melisande, Gabi and Theo and I hope to see more of their relationships develop. The use of Gods, magic and 4 seasons was great and I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next. I loved that traditional gender stereotypes were completely shattered and the representation of so many same sex relationships. The relationship between. Emri’s mums was beautiful and I’m looking forward to knowing more about their story when I go back and read book 1

Thank you to Helen Corcoran, O’Brien Press and NetGally for this ARC.

I loved Queen of Coin and Whispers, the first book in the series and so I was excited to immerse myself back into the world of Edar.

I did find the pacing of this book quite slow, however, because I have read the first book it was much easier to understand the world building.

I really enjoyed the relationships and dynamics between the main characters, Emri, Melisande, Gabi, and Theo. Especially the dynamic between Emri and Melisande! As this book is very character driven I thought it was important that they were portrayed and written in a complex way. I also loved seeing Xania and Lia again and their relationship which i think is absolutely beautiful. This book did what the first did well which was showing sexuality in a free and loving way, the characters could be free with who they wanted to love!

One of my main criticisms from the first book, Queen of Coin and Whispers was the use of first person for both of the POVs. I found that it was written very well as the characters didn’t have different voices, it was quite surface level. However, the writing and flow definitely improved and I thought that the characters’ personalities were distinctive and unique.

Overall, I really loved this book, especially the characters, and would recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy

✨ ARC Book Review: Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran
✨ Release Date: September 4, 2023
✨ Genre: YA Fantasy
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars

My thoughts: I don’t want to give too many details away because it’s the 2nd in the series, but I enjoyed reading this. It incorporated more magical and fantasy aspects than the 1st one did, and I found it was easier to get lost in a new world with this one. I enjoyed the characters as well and many parts made me laugh.

I still struggled with some parts of this being repetitive like this first one, but it wasn’t as much. Overall I think it’s worth a read if you like YA fantasy. ♥️✨

(I am not posting the synopsis either because it might spoil the 1st book for those that haven’t read it yet.)

"Daughter of Winter and Twilight" is an immersive, tense and moving story, exploring friendship, PTSD and of course continuing the story of two iconic lesbian queens. What more could you want? It has been ages since I read "Queen of Coin and Whispers" so I had absolutely no idea what to expect with this book, but I am so glad I picked it up. Absolutely fabulous! GAYS EVERYWHERE! The mythology introduced in this book, which was not a feature in the previous one, as far as I remember, was vivid and magical, without the need for any info-dumping. All of the characters were complex and fabulous and the slow creation of bonds between them was beautiful to watch. I can't wait for the next continuation of this series if there is more to come!

Very good story line. The plot was well written

Emri is the adopted daughter of two queens. Full stop. This is my fist time reading of two queens leading a realm. And I am here for it. Emri tries to stand up to her mothers diplomacy. She and her estranged cousin are kidnapped and magic is back.

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.

What a fun fantasy novel, full of intrigue. The second book in a series, the first being Queen of Coin and Whispers. I did not read the first, and I did not find this discouraging in any way. Sometimes when you read a sequel, you will be missing too much of the backstory. Not with this novel at all.

Emri is the teenage princess of Edaran, set to take over the throne after her mothers, the two Queens of Edaran. Emir is about to be introduced to society at the Midwinter Ball, dressed as Night, a mythical god. Her mothers will be Lady Winter and Twilight.

On the night of the ball, Emri and her estranged cousin Melisande go missing. Whisked away as though by the wind. They find themselves battling for their lives in a mysterious mountain castle filled with magic and the god that was believed to be nothing but a myth, Lady Winter. It is up to Emri to find her way out if she wishes for Melisande and others to survive.

This is a longer novel, but so compelling. Rich with fantasy, magic and lore of a country still ruled by gods and royalty. So richly written, it makes you long to visit these lands and get swept up in the beauty and history and magic as well.

Definitely fit for the YA set, but as an adult I enjoyed it immensely.

Helen Corcoran's Queen of Coin and Whispers was one of my favourite books of 2020 so when I was approved for an advance copy of the sequel I literally clapped my hands in glee.
Daughter of Winter and Twilight picks up several years after the end of Queen of Coin and Whispers, and tells the story of Emri the adopted daughter of Queens Xania and Aurelia, who were the point of view characters in that earlier book. While I obviously recommend reading that book, it is not essential to have read it to enjoy this one, which could be read as a stand alone. However I think that going into this book with a knowledge of the characters and their history did enhance my enjoyment of this book.
Emri is coming of age and now must face up to the realities of life as heir to the Eadaran throne, including arranged courtships and potential marriage as well as a visit from her estranged cousin Melisande whom she has long resented. Tensions are running high but when Emri and Melisande are swept away by a mysterious magical force to an almost ruined temple , Emri comes face to face with a Goddess she long considered a myth, the Lady Winter. The only way she can survive and help not just Melisande but the two other royal heirs who have been captured is by encouraging them to work together despite their differences and rivalries. If they do not survive the trials they have been set, the futures of all their kingdoms hang in the balance. If they succeed and free the magic that has lain dormant for centuries, their futures are unknown.
This book is not one that I would recommend to readers who need to be gripped from the beginning, or those who like fast paced action as the first 200 or so pages are definitely a bit of slow burn, something I was not expecting given how quickly I was drawn in by the previous book. Once the set up of the characters and their political roles and relationships had been established, and the trials were under way the pace really did pick up and I was much more engaged by the story. I liked the characters, particularly Emri and I would love to know more about Gabriela , she was not the most fleshed out of the characters but I enjoyed her personality and found her intriguing. Some of the strongest and most fascinating characters in the book were the Gods and Goddesses, most notably Lady Winter and Twilight, who were powerful and often cruel and added a lot of menace to the story.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

The first book in this duology (Series? Please, series.), Queen of Coin and Whispers, was my most anticipated book for the entire back end of 2019, and one of my favourite 2020 releases. At that time, it was a standalone and I adored it with every fibre of my being.

“Still, I wasn’t expecting to read this 464-page book in a single, engrossed sitting. I turned down food, people. I turned down food!”

DAUGHTER OF WINTER AND TWILIGHT picks up the narrative in the next generation, with Emri – Queen Xania and Queen Lia’s adopted daughter and heir.

For me, DAUGHTER OF WINTER AND TWILIGHT is a another five-star read, but a rather different book from it’s predecessor. It’s less political and court-centric, and ups the ‘fantasy’ side of the world-building with actual gods and the promise of magic. And the world itself is fabulous: in this instalment entirely female-led and queer normative. The story is still very character driven despite the quest/challenge angle, and the characters remain excellent: diverse, varied and complex. I love all the characters, even the ones I hate, because Corcoran writes them all so well and makes them all so intriguing.

A five-star book, through by personal preference I loved Queen of Coin and Whispers just a touch more (give me schemers every time). However, I do think I’d have been better served by rereading the first book before starting this one, and that might’ve shot it up even higher – a lot of the themes of this duology are tough choices and no-win scenarios. DAUGHTER OF WINTER AND TWILIGHT adds an element of consequences, and how they play out further down the line. My plan is to reread both books back-to-back in 2024.

As I said three and half years ago, “Run, don’t walk,” to pick up this series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I so enjoyed Queen of Coin and Whispers and was very excited to get the follow up Daughter of Winter and Twilight. While it can be read as a stand-alone, I think you really will get the most emotional impact from the story if you have read the first book. DOWAT is set a number of years after the events of Coin and builds on the events of the first story but with a mostly new set of characters. What I really liked about this story was how it expands outside of the keep that the first book took place in and we get gods and magic!! As the adopted daughter and heir of Queens Aurelia and Xania, Emri has been preparing for her coming out but is swept up in an adventure that will have far reaching ramifications for all of the surrounding countries and the heirs of those regions. I loved how Gabi, Theo, Melisande and Emri had to learn to not only work together but to forgive themselves and each other for things that were out of their control when they were younger. And meeting the forgotten gods and the trials and tribulations that the group went through was wonderfully written. The story really kept you engaged throughout, and I thought the ending was both hopeful and bittersweet. The one book that I would really hope for after reading this set of stories is a book about Truth....I need to know his story!!!

I didn't know much about this book before starting it and I just feel like you shouldn't either so no summary!!

I absolutely loved it this one. Not that it was surprising considering how much I loved Helen Corcoran's debut, Queen of Coin and Whispers.
In Daughter of Winter and Twilight, Corcoran comes back to that world and brings us Emri's story, the daughter of the main characters of QoCaW.
So we get to follow up with our beloved characters while getting to know their daughter and getting deeper into the world we already knew.
I really just enjoyed this story so much. I cried, I laughed and didn't see a lot of the twists coming. I was truly enthralled by Emri's character. She was everything and I loved getting to know her and her flaws and her strengths. I also loved the growth of the side characters, from the mothers to the cousin to the friends. I just had the most wonderful time and I will without a doubt read this again.
I cannot wait for more from Helen Corcoran!!

This was a beautifully written addition to this world. It was nice to get back into it, I absolutely adored Queen of Coins and Whispers when I read it. It was interesting to see what had happened since the previous book and nice to see how everything played off. I really enjoyed the characters and plot and overall enjoyed it.

This book was everything I wanted from a Queen of Coin and Whispers sequel/companion and more. Corcoran is truly a master of political intrigue and making every aspect of this fantasy world unique. The characters were so compelling, the setting was breathtaking, the storyline did not let up for one second. I can't help but hope there will be more novels set in this world, but I will absolutely pick up any book Helen Corcoran blesses us with.

I went into this book without realizing that there had been a book before it, and I only found out after I had finished this book. I never felt as if I were missing something, so I think this book stands on its own for anyone just picking it up

This was such a fantastic book! I really enjoyed reading this! I ADORED the first book and this book lived up too and exceeded expectations. I can't mention how much I loved reading this!!

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is the spin-off book from Helen Corcoran's debut YA fantasy novel Queen of Coin and Whispers which followed young queen Lia as she had to battle court politics, and a system used to lazy and corrupt sovereigns, while also dealing with growing feelings for her new spymaster Xania. Now almost twenty years later, we follow Emri, Xania and Lia's adopted daughter and heir to the throne of Edar as she struggles with what her future holds, and who will be by her side. But when Emri and her cousin Melisande are kidnapped by the winter goddess Lady Winter, they realise that magic is real and they need to depend on each other to survive.

I loved this so much. I loved Queen of Coin and Whisper for its politics, the elements of spymaster and the romance between Xania and Lia but dare I say I think I enjoyed DOWAT even more. I also don't think you have to read QOCAW before reading this as you can understand what is going on easy enough without knowing the full details of Lia and Xania's story and therefore Emri's. It definitely helps but is not a neccessity.

I love how magic was introduced in this book, especially as it is something like many fantasy books that was just talked about in stories and legends originally. So I loved that Helen Corcoran decided to make it real again, and in the most terrifying way. Lady Winter is not really a goddess you want to be enemies with but also she's not who you want on your side either as she's cruel and ruthless to all. She was honestly terrifying and I loved the thrill of being scared by her.

I enjoyed the bonds being forged in this book from those between Emri and Melisande (that had orignally being broken in childhood due to shared trauma), and then also those between Emri, Gabrielle and Theo. There are hints of romance in this book, mostly Emri still feeling heartbroken by her first love but I loved the gentle beginnings of something between her and Theo - and Theo was the cutest boy/future consort in the world. Someone who will hold your bag on the red carpet while the paps take their pics (in a world of Kens, he's an Alan).

Loved the adventure (as well as the real side of quests such as hygiene, body hair and periods) and the diverseness in this book as well (characters appear to range from bi/pan, ace, sapphic as well as mentions of non-binary rulers. They are also a range of skin types and backgrounds - not everyone is blonde, blue-eyed). There were so many fantastic threads started in this story for something truly epic to happen in the future and I can't wait to see what comes next.

This book made me feel cold the entire time I read it, which was perfect! It was like the snow, queen mixed with high fantasy, I can’t wait to see what else this author does.

"Daughter of Winter and Twilight" is a must-read for fantasy fiction fans. Helen Corcoran has crafted a mesmerizing sequel (the first book is not mandatory reading before reading this one) that will leave readers spellbound from beginning to end. With its rich world-building, compelling characters, and gripping plot, this novel leaves a lasting impression and establishes Corcoran as a talent to watch in the genre. I am baffled that this book has not been talked about more!

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the book.

The premise of this story is a good one. It’s got trials and tests, friendships and political alliances and magic. All the ingredients for a perfect recipe.
Politics and faith feature heavily in this book; with so many parallels to the real world. The writing is beautifully descriptive in terms of world building.
The depiction of family relationships and particularly parent/child relationships were beautifully done.