#an author on tiktok was talking about the differences (for him) writing ya vs writing adult horror

[fluffywhump]

"Some of my early readers said they were physically ill. It's very hot, at least to me"

Okay looks like I have another horror book to add to my tbr

[wondereads]

Personal Recommendation (3/28/21)

The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett

Why am I recommending this book?

I stayed up until 1:00 am to finish this book. I thought it was really good, and I think it avoided some of the pitfalls of YA very well.

Want something quick and short? Check out my tiktok

Plot 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Ekata Avenko is ready to leave her ducal family behind for the comforts of university in the south. Not only are they haughty and affection-less, but they have a habit of trying to off each other so there’s less competition for succession. Unfortunately, just after her oldest brother’s brideshow, the day before Ekata is finally free, her entire family falls into deep sleep, and Ekata is the only one left to rule Kylma Above. Besides regular politics, Ekata also has to deal with her power-hungry foster brother, relations with the magic-producing Kylma Below, and discovering who put her family to sleep–and how to wake them up.

I loved the plot. I love stories that focus on the intricacies of politics, how trade agreements and social functions are just as important as the armies a country has. I also think The Winter Duke had some rather realistic political exchanges, including how Ekata was utterly hopeless at them. Her attempts to mold herself into the perfect politician were convincing and interesting, with real consequences. Also, it was interesting to see the various opinions presented by many different people, and yet none of those people were wholly good or bad. I also loved the idea of Kylma Above and Kylma Below. One kingdom has unlimited magic but no contact with the rest of the world with the other offers contact in exchange for refined magic. It also provided a reason for why the antagonists kept Ekata alive when they could just have planned a coup.

Bartlett did a very good job of surprising the reader. As I read the book, I suspected exactly who it was, but that was because I was suspecting everyone. I knew there would be a betrayal, but I had absolutely no idea who it would be. And it made sense! Looking back at what was written, I asked myself why I didn’t think of it before. In a world where “surprising the audience” increasingly means “doing something completely unreasonable and never hinting at it in the narrative”, it really was a breath of fresh air.

Characters 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Ekata is so relatable. All she wants to do is pursue her passions and leave complicated politics and even talking to people behind her. She had absolutely none of the answers, but she was willing to work to find them. She was beautifully flawed, but in a way that didn’t make me hate her. Even when I knew she was doing the wrong thing I was rooting for her. Her struggles to protect her family and the duchy were both compelling and admirable. Also, her relationship with Inkar was so lovely.

Inkar, Ekata’s emergency political bride, was great. She’s everything Ekata wishes to be, but she still loves and supports her. I honestly don’t think Ekata could’ve found a better match. Also, I loved that even though Ekata was supposed to be making her feel uncomfortable, her and Inkar couldn’t help but bond over shared opinions and experiences.

Sigis. Ugh. He’s so horribly slimy and creepy. He was the perfect antagonist. I loved to hate him. His ambitions and conflict with Ekata also drove the story forward perfectly. Also needing to be mentioned is Eirhan, who was wonderfully annoying. As prime minister, he was Ekata’s closest advisor, and the whole book is spent wondering if he’s just trying to solidify his political position or if he’s after something more. Finally, Aino was so sweet, and her and Inkar’s rivalry, which resembled a subtle girlfriend vs. mother-in-law trope, added some conflict as well. The way her character arc ends was surprising, yet satisfying.

Special mention to the ministers for making Ekata’s life as hard as possible.

Writing Style 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Ekata has a very distinctive voice. She’s a bit odd, a combination of period-appropriate vocabulary and modern tone. Her frustration and hatred really come bleeding off the page. Unfortunately, when it comes to love or passion, it isn’t as vibrant. Of course, that may be due to the abundance of the former and lack of the latter in her life, but I do wish I could feel more about positive things in her life. One thing I really liked was the nonchalant attitude about gender and sexuality. Ekata is attracted to girls, she knows that. No one protests to her and Inkar’s marriage because they’re the same gender (though they do have things to say about it politically), and one of the ministers had they/them pronouns that were never discussed. After all, why should a fantasy world have the societal limitations of ours? (Still, points off for not having a map, because I wish there’d been a layout of Kylma Above with a corresponding map of Kylma Below.)

Overall 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

In case you couldn’t tell by my gushing, I really liked The Winter Duke. I think it avoided some of the more typical YA tropes such as love triangles, main characters with special powers, and a lovely solution to everything. The plot kept me engaged, I love reading from Ekata’s perspective, and it had a perfect twist at the end. I would recommend this book to people who like politics, intricate magic systems, and lesbians.

The Author

Claire Eliza Bartlett: Born in the US, lives in Denmark, also wrote We Rule the Night and The Good Girls

The Reviewer

My name is Wonderose; I try to post a review every two weeks, and I take recommendations. Check out my about me post for more!