The North Wind is a cross between Greek and Grimm, can you guess which?

I got The North Wind from NetGalley, but you can pre-order the book on Amazon now if this fancies you. The synopsis sure drew me in, and it is quite satisfying, mostly. While it is not exactly a rewrite of our favourite tales, I respect the author Alexandria Warwick for creating a fantastic book 1 for her Four Winds series. If you ever wonder what a slow burn means, it is this book.

Summary of the North Wind

The best way to hook me in is a strong character. Wren is such a girl, she is hunting at the start of the book. The author wastes no time in describing the barren landscape of cold and misery, and the imminent danger that will suck the life out of her. Then she returns to a barren home call Edgewood, and finds her twin telling her the axe is broken. Wren describes the situation and how much she loves her sister.

I didn’t say the book is perfect, right?

Hints and foreshadows everywhere. And then Wren talks about the North Wind.

Turns out she’s talking about a God, someone who will come to their village to take a woman, so that the Shade will not fall and unleash the dead to the living lands. Problem is that the Shade is already weakening, and the North Wind is either pulling everyone’s leg or has a massive power trip

First Comes Marriage

Wren makes a scene which lands her in the Deadlands, where the North Wind lives. I guess this is the part of the Greek mythology, or was it the Grimm’s? Both definitely have heroines ending up where they do not want to be because of …. something. Turns out the North Wind is a good-looking man, and his name is Boreas. He is one of the Anemoi, an old God. Well, he is two characters blended into one, so sometimes I struggle to connect with him.

Wren though, she’s a sister I’d love to slap. Her characteristics are popular in stories where we will rejoice in her growth arc, that sort of person. Her flaws are great, so is her propensity to change and become a better person. Problem is, she’s an ostrich who’s determined to make people’s life miserable. Like, she chooses to marry the King to save her village. Why does she have to kill him? What would his death serve? But she’s a fun character to follow around.

Then Comes Friendship

Tentatively, the two truces and become slow friends. Boreas is wary, but he is old and untrusting to a young woman who is hell bent on making bad decisions for her ego. Then oddly knows that she is lying, though I am sure that is not one of his superpowers. Wren though, she’s a firecracker, so she makes friends with the residents in the castle. She meets Boreas’s brother, Zephyrus, who seems very charming.

For a smart girl, she gets suspicious, but decides not to trust her instincts… I am appalled.

My Grips for The North Wind

If you read the book, the plot hole is big enough to house Dionysus’ party, but it’s a fun read and has some exciting parts. I agree, however, that it has the potential to be better. My biggest gripe is the ending. I am not sure what the author has in plan, but her decision in this book gets a thumbs down for me. It makes little logical sense to have the climax end that way: it is very unsatisfying. It feels like the author wants to twist the whole thing into the happy ending that she wants, rather than what her character deserves.

Verdict

I enjoyed the book despite its shortfall, but it was a fun read until the climax. Then it was rolling downhill so quickly it sunk into the bottom of the ocean; a cake couldn’t even save it.

Copyright © 2024 Ailyn Writes. All Rights Reserved.