Loved this book. Didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend.

Love love love. Incredible book. Fabulous book club pick too

I am not a gamer but am aware of the concept of a quest and further understand that the distance between reading and doing started blurring back in the old (antique?) DOS gaming days when adventures occurred one typed line at a time. Enter the tag "LitRPG." Are you reading a game or gaming a book? An ebook? (This is where I should turn to my nephews for help.)

Okay, let's go a step further and recognize that games encompass everything from ultratech SciFi to non-tech, medieval-based scenarios with and without magic, supernatural, dragons, witches and more. So I am speculating that the underlying basis of most quests is the form of honor codified in medieval songs and Arthurian legend: noble warriors protecting the innocent from evil to the greater good of (God and) all mankind. Note I have carefully avoided ascribing gender and am using "mankind" in its species neuter format. And "God" must be perceived as "god(s)" since, whatever your personal beliefs we are talking a work of speculative fiction describing a universe apart from our own with faiths as varied as mankind's.

All this build-up is by way of appreciation of the densely formatted continents and seas, kingdoms and conflicts presented in Kim Wilkins' tale. From the title you know women are in the forefront and prove to be leaders, warriors, seers and more with the clear acknowledgement of their ability to be such and yet with underlying sexual tension inherent to biology and probably with an unwitting nod to the "modern" reality in which we live. A coat is pinned, not buttoned nor zipped (yes, Virginia, pre-velcro) and transport is shank's mare (walking) or horseback. And the majority, as is regrettably still true today in a modern society which honestly should know better, still do not perceive women as inherently equal human beings despite all the evidence to the contrary.

By Chapter 3 I was thoroughly engrossed, uncertain whether Bluebell was evil incarnate or the salvation of her people and anxious to learn how the personalities and politics would play out.

A richly interwoven tapestry; your allegiances will be challenged at various times as the five sisters cope with events around them and each other. As a saga, the existing action is nicely wrapped up by the end of this massive volume; but the very last sentence leaves myriad possibilities for the future!

This book took me a while to get into it. A Norse themed book where you will be introduced to 5 very different daughters of the king. When the King falls ill and is thought to be on the verge of his death bed it is discovered that magic is behind his sickness. The sisters go on a quest to find a cure for their father. Things don’t turn out how they might have hoped and the sisters will find themselves separated and having to deal with different things going on around them. Will the family be able to hold together or will they fall apart along with the kingdom. The kingdoms fate lies in their hands.

Not a bad start to this series but wish it went a little bit faster in certain sections. With so many characters to keep track off I think the author did a good job.

I was fully expecting to fall in love with Daughters of the Storm. However, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters and found the plot to be a bit too slow-moving for my taste. The writing was excellent though and I appreciated Wilkin’s narrative choices. I thought that it was fascinating to have so many points of view, that choice really added another layer to the book. I also enjoyed seeing how the character’s opinions and perceptions of a situation were contrasted because it allowed readers to draw their own conclusions about events in the book.

The focus of the book was truly on the interpersonal dynamics between the characters, particularly the sisters. If it hadn’t been set in a fantasy world, I would classify this novel as literary fiction. As it was, I think that readers looking for a more typical fantasy novel may be disappointed. While I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, it also meant that the story moved rather slow, particularly at the beginning. I actually put the book down multiple times before convincing myself that it would get better and I should continue reading. Daughters of the Storm was not the book for me but I do think that it will appeal to some readers out there, particularly those who prefer books more focused on family dynamics.

I really liked this book. A group of sisters, as different as snowflakes, join together to embark on a perilous journey to save their father. Bluebell, Rose, Ash, Willow, and Ivy are all motivated by different things, driven by varying personalities and desires, but the thread of familial traits runs deep.
Each sister has her own reasons for joining the adventure, and they all play their roles to perfection. In this high fantasy romp, dangers lurk around every corner, and enemies are numerous.

I enjoyed this fantasy that has a northern European feel to it. The king seems to be dying, possibly of a magic poison, so his 5 daughters set out to find the cause and the cure. Each daughter has a very distinct personality and it was interesting seeing how they each approach life and the quest they are on. The magic was interesting and I am intrigued the most with Ash's story (she's the one who can wield magic, but is just learning). My one quibble is that I thought the characters too often exercised overly poor judgement. Now, I liked that all the characters were flawed and didn't always make the best choices, but they sometimes did really stupid things. Maybe because of that, I found it hard to really like any of the characters--they seemed a bit remote and very selfish.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.

Kim Wilkins gives not one, but 5 heroines, all of them sisters and all of them unique. There's Bluebell, the oldest, the kingdom's fiercest warrior (except for her father) and next in line for the throne. She puts her country and family before anything else. Rose, whose marriage vows sealed the peace between two kingdoms, but whose desire for her husband's nephew threatens to destroy it all. Ash, who feels a power growing within her that seems far stronger than she can control. Willow, who's secretly sworn herself to an outland God and hears angels in her head. And finally. Ivy, who has hit puberty with a vengeance and is eager to wield her power over men. When the king is struck ill by a magical curse, these five very different women must work together to try to heal him before the kingdom falls apart. Set in a world that feels Norse in flavor, this is a classic fantasy adventure with a cast of characters that all feel real.

Honestly I have tried five times to get into this book, it has everything I should like! Sisters! Intrigue! Royalty! But I found it hard to relate to the characters. DNF

Five very different sisters team up against their stepbrother to save their kingdom in this Norse-flavored fantasy epic--the start of a new series in the tradition of Naomi Novik, Peter V. Brett, and Robin Hobb.

FIVE ROYAL SISTERS. ONE CROWN.

They are the daughters of a king. Though they share the same royal blood, they could not be more different. Bluebell is a proud warrior, stronger than any man and with an ironclad heart to match. Rose's heart is all too passionate: She is the queen of a neighboring kingdom, who is risking everything for a forbidden love. The twins: vain Ivy, who lives for admiration, and zealous Willow, who lives for the gods. And Ash, who is discovering a dangerous talent for magic that might be a gift--or a curse.

But when their father is stricken by a mysterious ailment, they must come together on a desperate journey to save him and prevent their treacherous stepbrother from seizing the throne. Their mission: find the powerful witch who can cure the king. But to succeed on their quest, they must overcome their differences, and hope that the secrets they hide from one another and the world are never brought to light. Because if this royal family breaks, it could destroy the kingdom.

* * * * *

I very enjoyed being swept away into another world. One that is having issues with an upstart religion trying to take over and it's one that doesn't feel that women are good for anything but having children. And one of the sisters just happens to be devoted to it. Of course if you aren't able to relate to Willow there are four other sisters that just happen to be as different from each other as night is to day. My favorite sister just happened to be Ash.

I found DAUGHTERS OF THE STORM to be very well written with each of the sister's personalities well thought out and portrayed. Each sister is given her share of the story so that you are able to see the happenings from all of their points of view. Each of them has the ability to strengthen or destroy the fragile peace that the countries in the region currently enjoy.

I do feel that my readers who enjoy epic fantasy will enjoy DAUGHTERS OF THE STORM. The sisters do undergo a lot of changes and growth during the time of their father's illness. There is danger, love, treachery and new alliances founded which will keep you entertained. The conclusion is satisfying yet will leave you waiting impatiently for the next book in the series.

***I received this book for free from Net Galley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.

All kinds of havoc can break loose when 5 very different sisters unite to save their kingdom from their brother. Entertaining!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital arc of "Daughters of the Storm" by Kim Wilkins. This book was not my cup of tea. The descriptions are too long and I couldn't picture what was happening because of the description lengths. The story is original though and did not feel like a copy of the fantasy stereotype. If a reader likes stories about strong women in fantasy worlds then should make sure to check this book out.

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @ 26%

I'm just not completely sure why this book didn't work for me.
Partly, it is most likely because I dislike the characters. Even though I love how all the princesses are strong in their own way, I only liked Ash and Rose. Even Bluebell, who is a warrior, something I usually love, is just not cutting it. I dislike how anti she is to her step-family and how as the book is written the step-family seems to change.
It also probably doesn't help that the book starts out painting the Queen (step-mother) in a fond and sympathetic light, only for Bluebell, one of the main protagonists, to hate her and blame her for everything.

Past that, I think the book is really slow going. 26% and I only just met the two youngest daughters and plans are finally being made for the King. I feel like this could go so much quicker and be more enjoyable, or you know, more intense which I feel the book is trying to go for.... I could be wrong though.

Even though I gave up on this book, I feel so guilty since there were times I was engaged. The sisters could do some interesting stuff! Especially when progress in the plot was being made. I liked some of the side stories going on and thought it added depth to the story. If only the main storyline progressed too, I would have been happy.

So, this isn't one I'll recommend to a lot of people, but perhaps though who enjoy higher fantasy and/or slower paced reads will like this one.

While the premise of this book was excellent- I mean who doesn’t want to read about strong women characters, one of whom is a warrior princess, it was not a book that ended up being for me. I found myself quickly losing interest in the plot, especially after the introduction of the two youngest sisters Ivy and Willow, and by the end of the book I was mostly just skimming chapters trying to get finished and see what actually did happen. There are many sisters in the book to choose from, and each is stereotyped in some way as either warrior, romantic, magician, religious fanatic and selfishly immature, but unfortunately I couldn’t connect with most of them as I found most of them to be unpleasant. I definitely think the story could be improved by limiting some of the sisters POV’s-maybe only stick to Bluebell, Ash and Rose’s POV and leave the two youngest as supporting roles. The only character in the book that I actually I wanted to find out more about and see their story develop was the magician Ash, but unfortunately her story plays back up to the character of Bluebell who seems to be the driving character in the plot. While Bluebell is supposed to be a great warrior leader and the next great King, to me she mostly came across as hotheaded and stubborn and I found myself quickly losing any interest I had in her and what happens to her family. To me this was neither a good or nor bad book-it is just ok. There were some interesting parts and I did like that the story was female driven, but I would not recommend this to most readers unless they were very prolific fantasy readers.

A historical fantasy novel in which the characters are interwoven into a political and cold world of rulers, servants, and magicians. The story alternates from the 5 sisters' POV as well as the other prevalent characters. The maneuvering of characters reminds me of a chessboard. There are a few slow points in the story, but overall, it's interesting with a steady pace. I didn't particularly warm to any of the MCs, but the story arc makes this book difficult to put down. This is book 1 in a series, so even though the ending was well-written, I look forward to continuing. Some similarities with the Game of Thrones books. For fantasy and historical fantasy readers.

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Viking witches meet warrior princesses meet conflicted, complex mother characters. It's an interesting premise with promising world-building, but most of the book is setting up what will probably be a very cool series.

This is a complicated book full of manipulators both working toward what they believe to be good and for their own selfish purposes. There is a large cast, most of whom I'd consider unlikeable, but there is no question that they're well-rounded and complex. With the exception of Ash, and even she sometimes slips into this pattern of selfishness, the sisters and step-brother of the elf-shot king are happy to use guile, strength, or any other aspect they have to force others to conform to their will.

In the beginning, I wondered whether I could read the whole because I don't like spending time with nasty people. It's hard to tell hero from villain because neither descriptions from others nor their own actions show them in a good light. This soon fell away because none of the characters stayed wholly nasty, and when I had glimpses of their better natures, it informed the whole. The characters are very much a product of their circumstances and upbringing, so I can see why they behave as they do even if their choices are not the ones I would have preferred. One of the strengths in the book is how there were moments when I'd see a situation described in detail only to later get the other person's point of view and have the assumptions of the first turned on their head. This made the story feel solid and grounded in reality.

As far as the politics, infighting, and circumstances, the book does an excellent job of laying out the costs of power. Whether for the heir who cannot see beyond her duty, the younger sister married off to secure a border, or the step-son who could have been a decent person if not for the aspirations coming about when his mother married a king, each are puppets to the demands of power. This is not a story with clear lines between right and wrong. Everything is murky with uneasy diplomacy, religious clashes, personal failings, and unkind demands resulting from the characters' birthrights.

While most of the book occurs during one journey or another, the characters face very real risks and challenges. Physical and mystical battles complicate their journeys while lighter moments of love, humor, and sex are rarely without a darker shadow looming over them. In a world where watching both word and step would be wise, the sisters are rarely as wise as they need to be, nor are they committed to the same paths. This leads trouble to their doors more often than not, even for Ash, whose every step seems to take her closer to the foretelling she's trying to escape.

A lot happens, and a lot is resolved, but there's clearly more to come. I felt the book came to a solid ending, though with fingers reaching into a larger story. There are at least three story threads stretching onward into the series, and I'm especially interested in seeing how Ash's plays out because I connected with her from the beginning, and her path is fraught with complications.

This is not an easy, quick, or light read, but I do not regret having spent the time in this world one bit. The complexity appealed, the twisted logics and manipulations compelled, and ultimately, the characters won my respect and appreciation, if not always my preference.

P.S. I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

There are five sisters in a Nordic-inspired kingdom. Bluebell is the eldest and lives only for her country and battle. Rose is in a diplomatic marriage with a neighboring king and is in love with someone else. Ash holds dangerous magic she had tried to deny. Twins Ivy and Willow are diametric opposites: Ivy is interested in finery, being adored and having sex while Willow self-harms, hears voices of the trimartyr gods and is determined to follow their commands and bring the rest of her family into the religious fold. All five are in separate locations until their father is stricken with an illness that affects his body and mind, and Bluebell has to find someone skilled in magic to save him.

Though they are sisters, they all have very different goals and personalities. This puts them into conflict, sometimes undermining each others' wishes. There's definite desperation on Bluebell's part to have her father well again, and she is single-minded enough to want to hack and slash her way to his recovery even when there's nothing to attack. It drives part of the events and sets up the conflict with her stepbrother trying to kill her to take the throne. Each of the sisters has their own way of solving or creating problems, and don't see past their own interests until there are consequences to consider. As much as it would seem to be a cluttered narrative once they separate, it's very clear what is going on and how their stories all interweave.

I was completely sucked into the story and had to finish it within a single day. There are some slower, more contemplative passages, and it's difficult to really identify with any of the five sisters. Ash is probably the ones I connected with the most, and I felt sorry for Bluebell at times. It was difficult for me to really sympathize with the other sisters, but that didn't stop me from gobbling up their portions of the book anyway. The novel is the start of a series; the closing of this book is complete, but there are definitely enough questions about the sisters to continue the story.

AWESOME woman-centered fantasy. It reminded me of some of the strongest female characters in Game of Thrones. Highly atmospheric. Recommended!!

’m conflicted on this one. On the one hand, the world building was really great. I loved how much detail there was about the world’s history. It made everything seem so much more real. So if we were going just by world building, I’d probably give this a four or five star rating.

But…the characters. I had such a hard time with them. Honestly, there was only one person I actually liked–Ash–and even she got on my nerves occasionally. I’m all for having flawed characters–in fact, I get annoyed when authors try to make “perfect” characters. But it seemed like most of the characters in this book had pretty much no redeeming qualities (except for some of them really loved their family, which I do admit is a great quality to have). It was hard for me to root for most of them because I just got so disgusted by some of the things they did.

I will say, as with the world building, the character backstories were really well done. I did appreciate being able to learn about their lives prior to the events of this story. So I will say that was a plus.

Overall, this book was alright. I enjoyed the world building and magic. And the character’s backstories were well done. I just had a hard time with the characters themselves, which made it hard for me to actually care what happened to them. This book did remind me a lot of Game of Thrones, so if you enjoy those books/TV shows, then this might be a good book for you to check out.