Hello humans!
Do you ever have a feeling that something so good could be a lie, but then it turns out not to be a lie? Well, that’s how this book was for me. With every installment, it just kept getting better.
Okay time for a fun fact about this Unicorn: I love Japan and it’s one of the places I want to visit on my own and also with my family.
Today I would be reviewing the Red Winter: The Complete Trilogy by Annette Marie.
So what’s it about ?
Emi is a Kamikagari, and she bears the mark of the goddess of the wind, Amaterasu. She has been training all her life to be the perfect vessel for the goddess, only for her to discover a horrible secret that shatters her entire world. She saves a fox from an Oni (demon) and then embarks on an adventure that would change her fate.
The series is based on the Japanese mythology of the Shinto Gods and Goddesses.
When a book leaves you speechless and just gasping for a breath of fresh air afterward, you have to give the author credit where it’s due.
Annette Marie has given me all I desire in a book, a strong heroine with steady development, a badass fox god, and action that had me hanging at the edge of my seat. The world-building in this book is just phenomenal; I tip my hat because, holy potatoes, it was gorgeous. I had this series sitting on my shelf for ages, and I wonder why I didn’t read it.
Things I loved
- The world building: As i mentioned earlier it’s just phenomenal, it sucks you in and i am not kidding when i say you feel every single thing.
- The fact that the romance was there but it didn’t overshadow the story or make the heroine brain dead, it made her stronger instead.
- The growth of Emi through out the series: i am now placing her in my list of Badass Heroines because that’s what she is. I give the development of Emi and the other character’s an A+, it one of the best i have seen so far.
- Inari/Shiro : My baby fox , he has wormed his immortal self into my soul. I just love him. I loved that he did not pamper Emi instead he supported and trusted her decisions.
- All the secondary characters: I wish Yumei gets his own book, i want to know ore about him. The rest of the Yokai and Kunistsukami gave a warm family vibe from Uzume’s motherly attentions to Sarutahiko’s fatherly demeanor; Susano is is that reclusive older brother and Inari is definitely the trouble maker of the family,and the daitengu were the pesky cousins you can’t get rid of.
- The writing: Miss Annette here did her research and because of that she executed it perfectly.
- The art: Yes Annette Marie employed the help of a brilliant artist Brittany Jackson and she illustrated important scenes in the book which in my opinion gave the book more life.
- There’s a glossary of name pronunciation and meaning of things: This is really useful, as there are loads of terms that need to be explained.
What I didn’t like
Move along, people nothing to see here.
The end of the book was just so perfect. Dammit, I need more.
I found this book and became a devoted Annette-Marie fan because of Xpresso tours ( @xpressotours on Twitter).
Yes, this gorgeous piece of writing is available on Kindle Unlimited, but please buy a physical copy if you can.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Until next time
Nelo-The Booked Unicorn
