book rec: the winternight trilogy

[lirazel]

 Trying to remember to type with capitals over here.

If you're looking for an enjoyable read, a satisfying fantasy series with good writing, a fun world, and a wonderful protagonist, Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy is great. The last book came out a few days ago and I read it yesterday/today, and I'm just like, yes. That is everything a fantasy trilogy should be.

Comments

[sawthefaeriequeen]

How's the romance? The premise always sounded interesting to me, but I'm burnt out on woman/dark princeling hottie, so I wasn't sure.

[lirazel]

I totally understand. It's not my favorite dynamic either. But even though it's definitely present, I didn't feel like it dominated the story in any way. Arden is much more interested in Vasya's journey than in the romance. I felt like the romance was fine--I wasn't super into it, but it also didn't bother me. And I never felt like Vasya was subsumed by it.

If you have an absolutely hatred of that dynamic, you should skip it. But if it's something you can deal with as long as it doesn't take over the story, I say everything else is well worth it.

(As much as I adored Spinning Silver, I am thinking of begging Naomi Novik personally to please use a different romantic dynamic in her next book.)