Name: Wintersong
ISBN: 9781250079213

S. Jae-Jones

A Novel

Wintersong

Caroline Clutterbuck Kapulkin

Marcy Pursell 

I wanted to like this book. The only reason I didn't DNF it was because I committed to reading it as a 'Winter Read' book in my 2023 Reading Challenge. This had elements of a dark fantasy romance, but I had multiple issues/points of frustration:
1) There was a lot of German words and I think other languages that I'm not familiar with.
2) It focuses a lot on music...and again, I am not a musician, so was unfamiliar with terminology.
3) Religion and God were a small plot point too, but I didn't understand the purpose of including that.
4) The premise was not really unique, which is common. It definitely had Hades/Persephone vibes, which I didn't hate, but it wasn't executed well.
5) This book was so SLOW. It crawled. And it was too long...yet, I still have so many unanswered questions.
I understand there's a second book in the series, I assume picking up where the first one ended, though it didn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, but is also not your tradition HEA. I still have unanswered questions, but do not care enough to continue the series.

“Wintersong is a maze of beauty and darkness, of music and magic and glittering things, all tied together with exquisite writing. This is a world you will want to stay lost in.” —Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author Dark, romantic, and unforgettable, Wintersong is an enchanting coming-of-age story for fans of Labyrinth and Beauty and the Beast. The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride... All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away. But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds—and the mysterious man who rules it—she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed. Rich with music and magic, S. Jae-Jones's Wintersong will sweep you away into a world you won’t soon forget. "This was Labyrinth by way of Angela Carter. Deliciously romantic, with a nuanced Goblin King and a strong heroine, this story was rife with fairy tales, music, and enchantment." —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen

Annika Arguemore

Came for the romance, stayed for the tragedy.

As protagonists go, this one was unflinchingly honest. She talks about loving being straightforward, and actually walks her talk, though there was something about the character I didn't like. She is a well-written character and is as human as can be which is what's needed in the story. What I didn't like about the character was that she was too much like the past self I hated, the past self that wanted so much to be validated by other people, the past self that hasn't found herself—hasn't found me yet. Someone who won't allow herself to express herself. Someone who kept herself in a cage to be what people wanted her to be. And that's someone that I just want to forget.

It resonated with me, just not in the way that I thought it would, and it's not necessarily a bad thing because it reminded me of how much I've grown.

I'm not sure if this could be called wholly a romance novel, since, to me, it was more about the protagonist finding herself, and allowing herself to express herself. For me, it's only partly a romance novel, since for some reason I didn't really find any butterflies in my stomach when I was reading some of the lovey-dovey, romantic scenes. 

I also really loved the part where she won, because that part seemed one of the most genuine scenes. I also really liked how this novel was kind of like a low-key ode to Hades and Persephone and their toxic-ass relationship.

Vicky (A City Girl's Thoughts)

After I've read positive reviews on Instagram, plus recommended to me by my local library, I've decided to borrow this book and check it out for myself. From what I've heard, this is supposed to be a fanfiction of the Labyrinth movie, which I've only seen a part of a long time ago, but whether that rumor is true, or even if you haven't seen it, Wintersong is rich with detail but rife with confusion. 

Liesl is the eldest daughter of three children. Her parents are inn keepers (managers of their hotel; this story is set during the middle ages) who used to perform for the Bavarian monarchy. They were driven out and now the father is a drunkard who emotionally abuses Liesl while her mom doesn't really pay attention to her. Both parents are caught up in the misogyny of their culture, so Liesl doesn't receive any attention from them whilst her dad praises and trains her brother Franz Josef to be a violinist, and her pretty sister, Kathë, lavished with affection by both parents. With no lover or friend, she plays in the Goblin Grove, a place in the woods her grandmother Constanze says the King of the Underworld governs. Every fall he comes to  seek a bride whose mortal life will be sacrificed for the earth to restart, a.k.a spring to come again. If not, the world is doomed to eternal winter. The Goblin King (ruler of the Underworld) seduces Kathë to be his bride, so Liesl sets out to bring her back, but once she does she has to sacrifice her life to be his bride. 

While this tale is engrossing, there are loopholes that need closure. Heaven, Hell, and earth are spoken of, but S. Rae Jones doesn't say whether the Underworld is Hell or not. The King was a human once, but he exchanged his mortality for the crown so the earth can survive, but that was a lie the real king told him, which begs the question, who IS the real ruler of the Underworld? The devil? It might be, since sins like homosexuality and erotica are rampant there. By the way, I don't understand why this book is for teens. Liesl, the protagonist, is 18 at the beginning, and in the U.S. 18-20 year olds are considered teenagers, even though they're treated as adults, so is that the reasons? I don't remember young adult books featuring erotica when I was a teen, plus there's a hint of incest in here, since Liesl speaks of Franz as if he is her lover. I'm glad Liesl understood she was emotionally abused on earth and learned to love herself throughout her time as the Goblin King's wife, but the talk of the "old laws" is confusing, which didn't help me understand the backbone of this story. Overall I didn't enjoy this book.

dija

I love that the goblin king is babygirl coded

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen, Liesl feels that her childhood dreams are slipping away. And when her sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. But with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

Shay Henrion

Words cannot express how beautiful this book was. Give. Me. The. Sequel. Right. Now.

Nicole Dykeman

My experience reading this book was weird because I’m so conflicted about it. There was a lot a liked—the goblin lore, the inspiration from Christina Rossetti. The prose is beautiful, and I love the way music is tied into the story. 

But there was also some stuff I didn’t really like, like the way there was so much emphasis on the sex scenes. Like why does it have to be such a big deal? Losing your virginity should not transform a person entirely. Being desired by someone else should not be the source of self-confidence. 

Anyway I still don’t know how I feel about this after finishing so we are giving it a middle-of-the-road rating.

Stephanie Ridiculous

I have a lot of conflicting thoughts about Wintersong. It starts amazingly; totally captivating and intriguing. However, that elegance quickly slips away into clunky, overwritten angst. There is a whole lot of literal telling instead of showing, which is disappointing since the author really does have a way with words.

I think what it boils down to is that I can easily see what Wintersong could have been, should have been, but it just didn't deliver. It's entirely too long, sex/desire is overused to the point that it isn't impactful anymore, and the scenes essentially taken right out of The Labyrinth movie were totally jarring & pulled me out of the narrative.

However, the world building was well done, the non-angsty prose was beautiful, and the love letter to music aspect was fun to read. There are a lot of things to love here, so I wouldn't actively discourage picking it up by any means. Maybe the sequel delivers, although I'm not sure I'm willing to risk it. 😅

Livia

BE STILL MY HEART! Please, relieve me from this agony. My heart has been clenched and abandoned somewhere in the tail-end of this book.


  
     "Your music," he said at last. "Your music was the only thing that kept me sane, that kept me human instead of a monster."
  


It's been a long, long time since I read such an angsty and painful book (in a good way), and oh, how I missed it. The swooning, the longing, the denial, the hate, the love, the admiration, and the payoff. Liesl and the Goblin King's relationship is so slow-burn, you never know if they'll end up together or not. I love how much they grow, the amount of effort they put into trying to make things right between them. 


  
     "I am," I said slowly, "a girl with music in her soul. I am a sister, a daughter, a friend, who fiercely protects those dear to her. I am a girl who loves strawberries, chocolate torte, songs in a minor key, moments stolen from chores, and childish games. I am self-indulgent, selfish, yet selfless. I am compassion and hatred and contradiction. I am ... me."
  


I love Liesl's character growth. Even though she still is the reckless girl I didn't like that much until the end of the book, she comes to accept herself and what she is. She became confident and start to overcome her fear.

And oh, how my heart hurt for Der Erlkonig. My dearest King, who deserves all the love and warm hugs. I didn't like him at first, for his nature is fickle and mischievous. But the more he interacts with Liesl, the more his human side starts to show. And seeing him get soft whenever he's with Liesl makes me want to weep.

I understand that this book is not for everyone. It barely had a plot, it's slow, and even I have issues with consent in this book. But I adore this book for its beautiful writing, a captivating and atmospheric story, and incredible characters.

Campbell Berry

Celeste Richardson

I’ve been in the mood for anything wintry, and this book seemed like just the thing. It’s young adult, which I’ve struggled with in the past, but I decided to give it a go anyway. I’m so glad I did, because Wintersong is a beautiful story. A retelling of the movie Labyrinth, it’s a captivating take on the Goblin King and his Underground, with music at its core. 
“You are the monster I claim.”
Wintersong is lush, melancholy, and brimming with decaying decadence. Sixteen-year-old me would have adored this. It still spoke to me at thirty-one, but my teenaged self would have fallen head-over-heels for the story, the setting, the characters, the romance and, most importantly, the music. Music was incredibly foundational not only to the main characters, but to the plot itself. Music is very much the soul of this story and, as someone for whom music comprises much of my own soul, this resonated deeply with me. The descriptions of music, of crafting music and letting it flow through you, were stunning. 
“There is music in your soul. A wild and untamed sort
of music that speaks to me. It defies all the rules and laws you humans set upon it. It grows from inside you, and I have a wish to set that music free.”
The writing is beautiful. The author writes lyrically, and some of her phrases felt like music themselves. She painted, lush, lovely, haunting pictures with her words. Teenaged me would have been completely enraptured by the writing, as well. Seriously, y’all, I cannot state strongly enough how much this would have been my favorite book when I was in high school.
“Life,” he said softly, “is more than ﬂesh. Your body is a candle, your soul the ﬂame. The longer I burn the candle...” He did not ﬁnish. 
“A candle unused is nothing but wax and wick,” I said.“I would rather light the ﬂame, knowing it will go out than sit forever in darkness.”
The story is very dramatic, but the plot calls for it. I don’t know how you could retell this story without such drama. And I’m going to be painfully honest: as much as I respect Labyrinth and love David Bowie, I enjoyed this book more than the film. The importance of music is a huge part of that, but so is the core cast of the book, as well as the setting and the writing. Jae-Jones just did a magnificent job paying tribute to her source material while also telling her own story. Side note: I loved the homage Jae-Jones paid to Bowie by giving her own Goblin King heterochromia.
“It takes love, you see, to bring the world back to life.”
There is definitely sex in this story, but I didn’t find it vulgar. It’s more about the emotion than the anatomy involved. That’s not to say it isn’t erotic. Because it’s very erotic. Again, younger me would have found it insanely romantic and would have read and reread certain scenes until the pages loosed themselves from their binding.
“To love is to be selfless. Let me be selfless.”
Honestly, there was a poignancy to the ending that I think would give a suitable finality to the story without reading the sequel. It stands alone really well, especially as a Labyrinth retelling. However, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start the second book immediately after finishing the first.
“Love is the bridge that spans the world above and below, and keeps the wheel of life turning.”
So, why 4 stars instead of 5? Because I kept thinking the entire time about how much my younger self would have adored this book. While I really enjoyed it, dwelling on how much more I would have loved it 15 years ago was a constant distraction. But it also kept me reading. Adult Celeste might have wanted to roll her eyes at more melodramatic scenes, at the difficulty of communication and at some of the racier scenes. But the part of me that remembers being a teenager knew how much I would have loved everything about this book, including those parts, and so my enjoyment was expanded.
“I am,” I said slowly, “a girl with music in her soul.”
Wintersong is a beautiful, haunting story, and it’s exquisitely told. If you’re a fan of dark, dramatic, supernatural romances, you should pick this book up. And if you have a soft spot for Labyrinth, you’re seriously going to love this.

You can find  this review and more at Novel Notions.

Mary Rose Luksha

4.5 stars but added half a star because any character named the Goblin King will make me think of David Bowie. And David Bowie himself deserves at least half a star in his own right. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

Morgan

It was not what I expected it to be but it was a quick/easy read. I enjoyed the legend and the romance. Plot was eh. 

Nicole Lambert

This book in no way was a bad book. It was just really hard for me to get through, since at times I felt like it was going nowhere.

Kayla Roy

I need the sequel immediately. More like yesterday. I need to know what the blessed name is.

Christian Huss

Stars: 3.5/5

  
“This was the Goblin King. The abductor of maidens, the punisher of misdeeds, the Lord of Mischief and the Underground.” 
~Elizabeth


I'd be lying if I said I hadn't picked up this book solely because the summary reminded me of Labyrinth. In fact, I have never come across a book before that even mentioned the Goblin King (aside from perhaps a few that referred to him as a creature that was more fairy-like and held the position of king of the fairies), but when I saw the previously mentioned movie, I thought that the concept was magical and strange. So you can imagine my excitement when I chanced upon a book focusing on the Goblin King or Erlkönig. The idea is fascinating, and I wanted to find out how S. Jae-Jones took the mythology of such a figure and wove it into an enticing tale.

Wintersong's female protagonist is Elizabeth, eldest daughter and child of innkeepers. Her father was once renowned for his musical abilities and her mother for her beauty and voice. Out of all of her siblings, Elizabeth seems to have the fewest prospects in life. Käthe has her beauty and way with men, Josef expertly plays the violin, and Elizabeth lacks physical beauty and a father who will not allow her musical talents to flourish (simply because she was born female). Thus, Elizabeth feels lost in life, and often only sees herself as a caretaker for Josef, whom she composes for.

One day, Elizabeth's sister is stolen by the Goblin King in order for him to attain the one person he truly wants -- Elizabeth. They once played together as children in the Goblin Grove, but her childhood memories of this boy have been long forgotten. Nonetheless, she chooses to give herself to the Goblin King for the love of her sister and to protect the world above from an eternal winter. Once the ceremony is complete, their marriage must be consummated, but the Goblin King refuses her, claiming that he wants all of her, not just a few pieces:


  
“There is music in your soul. A wild and untamed sort of music that speaks to me. It defies all the rules and laws you humans set upon it. It grows from inside you, and I have a wish to set that music free.” 
~The Goblin King



This brings us to an interesting topic. First of all, Elizabeth often mentions that she is quite ugly in regards of what is defined as beautiful. She envies her younger sister, who possesses immense physical beauty and understands how her body affects those around her, especially men. In fact, she often mentions it in the beginning of the book:


  
“What I wouldn’t give to be the object of someone’s desire, just for one moment. What I wouldn’t give to taste that fruit, that heady sweetness, of being wanted. I wanted. I wanted what Käthe took for granted. I wanted wantonness.”
~Elizabeth



She also learns that Erlkönig's previous brides were all physically beautiful. What's interesting, though, is that the goblins in the market mention this:


  
“That one,” the merchant said, pointing to Käthe, “burns like kindling. All flash, and no real heat. But you,” he said. “You smolder, mistress. There is a fire burning within you, but it is a slow burn. It shimmers with heat, waiting only for a breath to fan it to life.” 



This is a particularly fascinating passage when even the Goblin King mentions that she is physically unattractive, but he explains that she possesses something that is far more beautiful and unique -- her soul. I thought that it was a perfect choice for Jae-Jones to make Elizabeth physically unappealing. The author doesn't go into great detail as to what Elizabeth looks like and Liesl often mentions that she knows she is not the "apple" of anyone's eye back home. However, her beautiful soul is something that is far more valuable and amazing than her outward appearance, and I love the fact that this is the reason as to why the Goblin King fell in love with her. Her music is a reflection of her soul and deepest emotions, and he fell for a talent and intangible aspect of Liesl that few acknowledged. You don't really see this in many YA novels of today, as the protagonists are usually attractive and this results in an attractive love interest. In the end, this love seemed far more sincere, wholesome, and real. 

Jae-Jones also has an amazing writing style. The book was truly a work of art in this sense. In fact, it was pure poetry. Just read this:


  
“You are a man with music in his soul. You are capricious, contrary, contradictory. You delight in childish games, and delight even more in winning. For a man of such intense piety, you are surprisingly petty. You are a gentleman, a virtuoso, a scholar, and a martyr, and of those masks, I like the martyr least of all. You are austere, you are pompous, you are pretentious, you are foolish.” 
~Elizabeth



As you can see, Jae-Jones doesn't just have a way with words, she's capable of truly portraying what's on a character's mind. The emotions are tangible and brought forth with such vigor. The characters were emotionally complex, well thought-out, and I just adored the chemistry between Elizabeth and Erlkönig. Most of all, I loved experiencing all aspects of the main characters, including their sadness, joy, anger, beauty, and darkness.

There were only a few things that I was disappointed in with this book, one being the origin of Erlkönig. The Goblin King mentions a story of how this being came into existence, but there's a bit of confusion as to who the original Goblin King was or how the power passes from one to another. I believe this ambiguity was intentional, but the Goblin King himself often insists that the Goblin King always was and always will be. Thus, even though it seems as if multiple people possessed the mantle of Goblin King, Erlkönig acts as if it has only been one entity.

The second confusing aspect was the explanation of how changelings come into existence. A few exist in the Underground, but their origins are mysterious and the goblins don't like them very much. There seem to be various ways in which they can come into existence, but the poetic explanation didn't come across very clearly. 

Lastly, most of the book takes place in the Underground, so there isn't much change in setting. Although the Underground is interesting in some ways, it can become doldrum after a while, especially when Elizabeth spends so much time in the same rooms. Also, I felt that the entire consummation arc of the story drug on quite a bit. It seemed as if sleeping with the Goblin King was validation of being truly loved by someone and she just seemed to pine a little too much for this event to finally occur. It's also revealed that the consummation is the beginning of Elizabeth's end. Thus, her life begins to feed the Underground and allow spring to return. It was just a little strange that they referred to the consummation and further visits to the Goblin King's bed as "lighting a candle." Maybe it was just a euphemism I could have lived without:


  
“Life,” he said softly, “is more than ﬂesh. Your body is a candle, your soul the ﬂame. The longer I burn the candle...” He did not ﬁnish. 

“A candle unused is nothing but wax and wick,” I said.“I would rather light the ﬂame, knowing it will go out than sit forever in darkness.” 



Overall, I would definitely recommend Wintersong. I have never come across anything quite like it before and it's definitely a work of art. I also can't wait to see what Jae-Jones does with the next installment.

If you enjoyed this review, you can find more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/

Lila Harrison

This review was originally posted onn The Bookkeepers' Secrets 
Buckle up, y’all, cause this is gonna be a long one!

Ah, conflicting emotions, how you torture me! This book was so, so, soooooo good but also so, so, soooooo problematic….

Let’s start with the good. The good thing is that I loved Wintersong so much that it’s a new all-time fave of mine! Rich, dark, and seductively magical, Wintersong dazzles. Everything about the book pulls the reader in and immerses them in a darkly enchanting tale. Wintersong reads like a modern fairytale.

First off, Jae-Jones’s writing is absolutely luscious. She manages to write in a style that is beautiful and enchanting, yet succinct. In this way, she allows readers to experience the magic of her world without swallowing them in description and losing the storyline. And, my gosh, is this world immersive. Jae-Jones’s writing and world just completely surrounds you, flowing from the page to make you feel as if you’re right there with the characters!

Jae-Jones’s gorgeous writing works hand in hand with the world building to create a full experience for the reader. Wintersong takes place in Bavaria in about the 18th century. But this is not quite the Bavaria you might know. Jae-Jones’s Bavaria is ripe with magic and enchantment. Magical creatures mingle with humans, playing tricks and capriciously “granting” wishes. And beneath the human world lies the dark goblin underworld, where nothing is quite as it seems. I loved how Jae-Jones wove in whispers of folklore to create the feeling that this world was ancient. She slowly, succinctly sets up the history via Liesl’s superstitious grandmother and then weaves in new elements of the world through Liesl, who is experiencing magic for the first…er, well, actually the second time. Everything about the world leaps from the page, painting pictures before your eyes and wrapping you in its arms.

The story isn’t just immersive in its world alone but in its plot as well, which is absolutely enthralling. Wintersong almost hummed with the vibrations of the story, whirling in a slow, yet enchanting waltz. I lost myself in the viscous melody of Liesl’s story. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next, what new secret Liesl was going to discover. I found myself looking for clues even in the ordinary moments and frantically turning the pages to find out more!

So now that I’ve gushed enough, I’m gonna move on to the elements of Wintersong that I disliked. I’m gonna start with a relatively tiny issue that I’ve heard about from other readers/reviewers that I didn’t experience too much myself. So, as I mentioned, music plays an integral role in Wnitersong. Unfortunately, in weaving music into the story, Jae-Jones used a lot of complex musical terminology. I generally was able to follow along because I’ve studied music all of my life, but I’ve heard from others who aren’t musicians that it was very confusing because they couldn’t understand the jargon. So that’s just something to be aware of.

Okay, so let’s get to what I think is a more pressing problem which is: Liesl. I couldn’t relate to Liesl at all. She was so gosh dang selfish. Everything–everything–she did was purely out of self interest. Not only that, but she was also so judgmental and envious and self-pitying and, honestly, whiny. All the freaking time! She can’t go a chapter without somehow mentioning how every other woman is so beautiful, but (in her opinion) their beauty makes them shallow and how she’s so plain, but has depth that beautiful women don’t, so people should pity her because no one will ever be interested in her because she’s plain and on and on and on and on…That narrative got tiring real fast and left me feeling like, “Girl, the reason no one likes you isn’t because you’re plain, it’s because you’re bitter af.”

Which brings me to to the downright problematic elements of Wintersong. Liesl’s bad attitude plays straight into the first problematic element of Wintersong, which was the demonization of beautiful women. I’m not about girl hate. And I don’t think anyone else should be about it either. I get that the author wanted to hammer in that Liesl is plain and insecure, but she could’ve easily done so without tearing down other women.

But the “girl hate” isn’t where the problematic content ended. Oh no. That was only the beginning, my friends. Liesl goes on to have a troubling romance with The Goblin King. My issue with the romance lies in that Liesl enters it almost entirely out of her deep desire to be desired. Not because she’s falling in love. Because she is desperate to feel wanted and she feels The Goblin King can satisfy that desire. Now, I’m not a psychologist or a relationship counselor or anything, but that to me seems like a really unhealthy reason to enter into a relationship. In America, we have a saying that goes something like, “you gotta love yourself before you can love someone else.” I wish Liesl could have learned that lesson.

And if you thought the issues would stop there, you’d be wrong. The romance becomes even more problematic due to the fact that Liesl wants to have sex because she wants to “find herself” and in this narrative, her wish comes true–only after Liesl and The Goblin King have sex does Liesl “find” herself and her music and begin to love herself. Ummm??? I’m sorry, but what kind of message do you think that sends young women??? Because it seems to say to me something like, “your value and worth comes only from having sex with a man,” as well as “you need a man to help you discover your value.”

To top it all off, the anti-feminism doesn’t limit itself to females, but also extends itself into the realm of perpetuating masculinity stereotypes. After Liesl and The Goblin King have sex for the first time, The Goblin King cries and the next morning Liesl’s all “I felt shame at having seen him during this embarrassing moment of vulnerability and emotional nakedness.” She gives off the vibe that it’s shameful and embarrassing for men to cry or be vulnerable.

So, I know I’ve listed a lot of things that I found problematic, but I really did love Wintersong. If you’re willing to look past the…less positive…elements of the book, I think you’ll find a darkly magical and intriguing read. Bottom line for me, personally, is that I really loved it and I’m desperate to get my hands on the sequel–especially after that dreadfully heartrending end! I’m so happy to hear that the sequel is a direct sequel and not a companion and I honestly can’t wait to get my greedy little hands on it!

Becky

I adored every page of this magical book. It is not fast paced. It is not action packed. It is heart wrenching and heart breaking and utterly a work of beauty. Of flawed characters and flawed people learning who they are, what they love, and who they wish to be.

I was sucked straight into this story and the magical writing. The words are almost musical. There is a rhythm to the writing. If I knew more about music I would describe the pacing in musical terms but I do not and I currently can't be bothered to google it. It's safe to say a love of music is apparent throughout this book. I wanted to listen to all the classical music.

This is a character driven book and Liesl is not always the most sympathetic character. She is jealous and melancholy. She is prone to self pity and self loathing. She doesn't see the light and beauty within herself and that is frustrating to read as she caring and talented and so willing to sacrifice her own needs for others. Even when she acts selfishly there are grains of goodness in it. I both loved and hated her and she was spectacular.

As for the Goblin King he was swoonworthy and brilliant. He was awful and mischievous and utterly captivating. I understood the fascinatoon with hi. And I wanted to learn all of his secrets.

I kept stopping reading this throughout the day but I was constantly thinking about it when I wasn't reading. It's one of those books which holds your attention even after finishing. I wanted more and got just enough. It was brilliant and fantastic and I loved every page. Every word. Just everything. I'm glad I read it and it is a favourite now.

Emily Ines 🤍

Beautiful and sad. I absolutely loved it. Sometimes to truly love you just give up what you hold most dear. 

Jocelyn Poh

I really wished I liked this one more. this book is the first book I've picked up AND completed in a long while. however, I really disliked the pacing of the plot and how some scenes really just drag on and on. it was quite a relief when I finished reading the last sentence of this book. highly doubt I'll pick up the second book.

soph

it was fast-paced and there were like 4 smut scenes but we never see any of them???

Sheila Goicea

See this full review on my blog along with others at: shesgoingbookcrazy.com
I was not a child of beauty; I was a child of the queer, the strange, and the wild.
 Wintersong is not a story that everyone will appreciate. I say that because of the style in which it is written. Its prose are beautifully artistic, but may not resonate with every reader because of the depth of conversation to which it addresses. Instead of a story being handed to the reader on a silver platter--no questions to ask, no thoughts or feelings to decipher, no reflection to behold--it is a story which challenges innermost thoughts with notes, images, feelings--not words. And I loved it.

If there is one word to describe this book, it would be raw. Raw experiences. Raw emotions. Rawness on all accounts. 
It hurt. Hearing my music like this, played in the hands of someone who understood me so completely---in a way, not even my brother had known---hurt. My music was elegant, transcendent, ethereal, and I could not bear to behold its beauty. I longed to pull it back beneath my skin, to hide it away in the shadows where it properly belonged, safe where no one could judge it for its flaws.
It has been a while since I have read a character with such developed inner-monologue and outer-dialogue. We travel through the labyrinth of thoughts, wishes, hopes, and dreams Liesl embodies. We see her make difficult decisions, for selfish and selfless purposes. We see her transform from the unremarkable and "plain" girl Leisl, into the woman Elisabeth. We see her understand what it means to sacrifice for another.
I do solemnly swear that I accept your sacrifice, the gift of your life, selflessly and selfishly given.
Leisl, (and Elisabeth's) relationship with the Goblin King is tumultuous, bewitching, and real; besides the fact that he's a Goblin King...It glimpses upon the passage from maiden to matronhood and the trials of what marital union call of a person. I love the dark alluring character and mystery of Der Erlkönig and the Goblin King, as they are two halves to a whole.
The Goblin King had his tricks, but I had my stubbornness. We would see who prevailed in the end. 
 Wintersong had a  Phantom Of The Opera feel to it: an enticing and elusive man wants a girl for her music, not to mention her soul. Because of the dark undertones and mature nature of the story, I personally wouldn't recommend this book for young adults, along with the fact that there are some descriptive sexual scenes. I tend to be more conservative, but I'd say this book is for eighteen and up. 

My one and only issue with this book was that it was a bit drawn out in the middle. The book is almost divided into two separate stories, and once the second story took center stage, the pace began to lag. I understand why it was drawn out, because it takes a person time to sort out their feelings, to grow and to understand themselves and others at a deeper level. I think this aspect may turn some people away from the book. However, I found it to be all more realistic and relatable. I appreciated that Jae-Jones didn't force her characters to miraculously change overnight, and allowed them to change naturally and upon their own accord. 

Hands down, 5 stars. This may be a new favorite. I appreciated how much the reader could take away from this story, and it wasn't strictly written for entertainment purposes. There is a heart behind its words, pulsing and humming with life and thought. I am highly anticipating it's companion read, to be published in 2018.

Aleena Korell

I'm waffling more than usual on this one. I'm settling at 4 1/2 but it still doesn't feel quite right.

There were some parts of this that I really loved. Especially at the beginning, Elisabeth was a very compelling character. The sort of resigned, deserted feeling of seeing her younger sister become a woman before her. The desire to be "sinful," as she says, when others seem to see her as the "pure" one. Quite compelling, conflicting desires in her that I was interested to see pan out, especially around the mischievous Goblin King.

This was an interesting take on The Goblin King, and one I really enjoyed. Lots of magic and enchantment, and a beautiful story of self-sacrifice and love. But also, about someone who is used to being self-sacrificing finally allowing herself to be selfish, and someone who is used to being selfish pushing himself to be selfless. (view spoiler)[The ending had me a little confused, however, about how her sacrifice pans out, since it seems to me her and the Goblin King's decisions at the end would cause said sacrifice to be in vain? Maybe the next installment will deal with this. (hide spoiler)] My favorite parts of this book were the interactions between Elisabeth and the Goblin King. There were some sweet and funny and snarky moments that were just perfect. The ending of part II-- Ugh. Wonderful.

Things that nettled me: 

Let it be said that I'm a musician (for a living, even) as well as a violinist and songwriter. I REALLY like music, and I really get the passion for it. But.... there are an awful lot of musical references here. And it gets a bit much. I imagine someone who is not a musician might be confused at all the terms and analogies.
The ambiguity got to me as well. I mean, I'm still confused about that ending, though it was beautifully bittersweet-- (view spoiler)[For real though, how did she not doom the world into eternal winter like the first time she almost left? (hide spoiler)] and there was nearly a whole third of the book where I was just confused about what was going on and what each character was actually wanting/trying to accomplish. Some of it was finally clarified near the end but that part was icky to slog through. And anything romantic or physical between Elisabeth and the Goblin King read a bit melodramatic because it was so vague and, honestly, confusing in what seemed to be an effort to be "sexy" and "poetic". It didn't work for me.

Overall, Wintersong surprised me. I was expecting it to be the typical YA, and it really wasn't. It was atmospheric and magical, mischievous and dark, which is my forever weakness. Certainly will pick up book 2, and will read more of S. Jae-Jones' work in the future!

María Belén

3.5 stars

This was surprisingly good for a fantasy book. 

I feel like the genre (one of my favourites) is losing its appeal. I've been reading some pretty average and sometimes bad fantasy books. But Wintersong remainded me why I like this genre so much. 

In typical fantasy bok style, Liesl is an ordinary girl living in the shadows of her sibilings. Until the handsome and mysterious stranger swepts her off her feet and proceeds to show her how special she really is. Some other stuff happens but mostly it's a pretty typical book. 

The strong point of this story and what I loved most about it is the world bulding. The legends and hystory if the Goblin kingdom. I loved the Goblin people. Thier characterization is original and very well written. Definitely my favourite thing about this book. 

The main characters are okay, well written and interesting. I liked Liesl a lot. Despite being quite average at first; she turned out to be a cool protagonist. 

I gave this 3.5 stars because I sort of loved/hated the ending. Still, Wintersong is a great book. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Stephanie V. Sather

It's a lovely tale that may have been inspired by the poem Goblin Market, but it's infused with music and whimsey. A younger sister eats forbidden fruit and her older sister will do anything to keep change her fate...even if it means sacrificing herself. It's a strong tale of sisterhood and inner turmoil with an ambiguous ending.

Wintersong A Novel

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