This book has some of my favorite things: forced marriage, enemies to loves, one bed trope TWICE, nice spicy moments

It also has a series setup that I love which is standalone books that connect, each of the four wind gods getting their own story.

Wren isn’t the most likable character, she’s rough around the edges and an alcoholic, but she gets a bit better. Boreas also starts out lacking but warms some once his past is revealed.

This was an enjoyable read for me, nicely written, no complaints. It just wasn’t at the level where I’m squealing from interactions between the couple or I’m so excited for the drama/angst coming that I have to set my book down for a minute to prepare myself.

I look forward to the rest of the series and I think I will like Zephyrus’ love story even more than this one.

TW: alcoholism, SA - no depictions but there are multiple conversations about such crimes committed

*thank you to Alexandria Warwick, Andromeda Press, Xpresso Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review*

TW: Alcoholism, mentions of rape, mentions of prostitution, murder, violence (war), blood and gore

4.5 - 5 stars

I came across a quick little Booktok clip on The North Wind and it seemed right up my alley with it's Hades & Persephone vibes with a little bit of Beauty & the Beast twist. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did because I hardly ever have good luck with Booktok, but it was actually a really fantastic read and very entertaining.

The North Wind is a dark fantasy romance about the Frost King who has come to take his next sacrifice from the village of Edgewood. Unfortunately for Wren, her sister Elora has been chosen, but Wren has taken care of Elora her whole life since her parents passed and Wren would literally die for her so of course she steals Elora's place and becomes the Frost King's sacrifice...err rather his new wife.

The Frost King, a.k.a. The North Wind, a.k.a. Boreas appears cold and aloof at first but like any good hero, beneath his frozen hard exterior dwells a man of soft marshmallow fluff. Wren is anything but a goody two shoe princess hero (you know the type). She has more flaws than I can count and she actually disgusted me in the beginning with her hygiene and table manners but I came to love her as the story went on. The romance between these two is firmly enemies to lovers and it's a really slow burn but it's so delicious. The story starts to really take off towards the halfway point and the tension is just so so so good. There's loveable side characters, attempted stabbings, fantastic spice, and so many libraries in Boreas's house...what's not to love?!

The world that the author built was fantastic and easy to follow and based on the Greek myth of the Anemoi, I'm really intrigued to know more of the background story of the four brothers and how the whole coup took place. I will definitely be following the rest of the books, though Zephyrus is really starting off on the wrong foot with me.

I would recommend this book to any fans of Greek mythology, fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Scarlett St. Clair, or Laura Thalassa.

Thank you so much to Andromeda Press for providing me with a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I'm relatively new to reading fantasy, so I was a little sceptical going into The North Wind. I was gifted an advanced copy by Netgalley and Andromeda Press and to be honest found it a little slow for the first 20%, but I think that was on me rather than the book.

Once I got into this book I was HOOKED! It is SO GOOD. Enemies to lovers and a real slow burn - but totally worth the wait! All that and a great story plus beautiful character development. The only downside is that now I have to wait for the rest of the series and I want them now! A solid 4.5 stars so we will round up to 5!

If you like a

Since Wren and Elora’s parents died, Wren has made sure to take care of her sister and protect her at all costs. Even when this means that she has to leave her home and her sister for good, and go with the enemy, the Frost King.

He is the North Wind, and with him, he brought an endless winter. Hated by everyone, he is the villain of the story. Or is he not?
Maybe Wren was wrong, maybe he is not the Beast in the story, maybe she thought that she was saving her sister, but instead, by leaving with him she was saving herself.

Beauty and The Beast retelling, slow burn, enemies to lovers, daggers to throat, a strong female leader, this book has everything! Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso book tours for this amazing ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The North Wind follows Wren, a young woman who will do anything in order for she and her sister to survive their brutal living. When the feared Frost King arrives to take away a woman in the village to be his bride, Wren finds herself caught up in a whole new world.

We see Wren adjust to her new way of life while she discovers if the King is as horrible as she fears.

Wren and the king definitely began as enemies and ended lovers, but for some reason I did not feel the connection. I think I was comparing this book to many similar that I have read in the past and it was just okay.

I really enjoyed Wren's personal growth more than anything. Her struggles with alcohol and loving herself was so relatable.

This is an entertaining read, but not something I would re-read.

OHHHHHH MY GOD. This was so freaking amazing!! I was really excited about this because I LOVE Warwick’s North series (it’s seriously one of the most underrated fantasy series out there) and this one had so many things I usually go for: Greek myth! Fairytale retelling! Hades and Persephone! Grumpy immortals! Badass female lead! Marriage trope! There’s only one bed! THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING.

And it absolutely blew me away! I completely devoured this in a day and a half because it was just so addicting. I LOVED Wren and really enjoyed watching her grow into herself and deal with her personal demons. Boreas was so much fun (I will never get over him saying he couldn’t sleep on the floor because “I have back pain”) and peeling back the layers of his character and backstory was great. Their relationship was TOP NOTCH, so much angst and tension and cuteness, I couldn’t take it.

I also loved the mythology— I LOVE anything to do with Greek myth and it was great to see these smaller gods get their time in the spotlight! The worldbuilding was really unique too and can definitely see how further books will work on expanding that. Also includes some incredible side characters— my favorites were Orla and Silas (Pallas was great, too). Overall just a FANTASTIC adult romance with amazing characters and one of my favorite books of the past couple months!

If you’re a sucker for dark fantasy romance then this dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast is definitely for you. It ticks al the boxes: enemies to lovers; slow burn, headstrong heroine, broody frosty king and spicy scenes. A highly entertaining read!

I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Andromeda Press & the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is a fast-paced, fantasy filled slow burn enemies to lovers that checked all the boxes for me. I absolutely flew threw it and think it’s ideal for fans of JLA or SJM who are looking for their next fix. The main downside is that book two will follow Zephyrus instead of Wren and Boreas and I honestly can’t say I’m too excited about that, but I’m a big fan of how Warwick developed the plot in this story so I’ll never say never.

The one gripe some readers may have here is that I found the overall plot incredibly predictable and in some ways, unoriginal. In saying that, I have been reading a lot of similar works recently so that could be skewing my perception, and I definitely enjoyed this book overall and would highly recommend it.

Wow. I’m a huge fan of Hades & Persephone, and Beauty & the Beast retellings in general, but this was such a richly profound story that I kept forgetting it was inspired by those well known favorites. Definitely one of the best slow burn, enemies to lovers, fantasy romances I’ve read. Full of beautiful imagery & great world building. It’s impossible not to immediately love Wren the strong, sarcastic, stabby heroine from the first page. Alexandria Warwick also did a fantastic job writing the frigid, dark, yet incredibly handsome “Frost King” aka “The North Wind.” This book was so hard to put down! If you enjoy slow burn, TRUE enemies to lovers, only one bed, arranged marriage, forced proximity, knife to throat, great spice, and hints of mythology you will LOVE this book! I was so impressed that I need to read more of Alexandria Warwick’s writing and can’t wait for her next book.

Thank you to Alexandria Warwick, Andromeda Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A rather interesting take on Hades and Persephone and Beauty and The Beast.

Wren is our headstrong main character and narrator. She is fiercely loyal to her twin sister, Elora, and essentially serves as the breadwinner of their two person family. She is oftentimes immature, lacking in any kind of decorum, brash, blunt and often under the influence. Wren is an addict, which is sad, yet, refreshing to see in a female led fantasy novel. She is not the prim and proper version of Persephone I have come to see in different retellings. She is rough around the edges, which is up my alley as the perfect protagonist is not my cup of tea.

When Elora is chosen by The Frost King a.k.a, The North Wind, a.k.a, Boreas, as a supposed sacrifice, Wren is enraged and dupes the The Frost King into going in Elora’s place.

Wren despises The Frost King due to the fact that he has taken women from her village for years, and placed their land in an eternal winter, having caused the deaths of many. Angry, and now trapped under the thumb of the king who has ravaged her lands, Wren is a defiant “captive” in The Frost King’s realm, the Deadlands.

However, as layers between the two of them begin to shed, we are given insight as to why these two individuals are cruel to one another, and how those feelings develop into something different, something more.

The antagonist in this novel was obvious, though this did not take away from my enjoyment. It just made me curious of their motivations, and I find that usually a villain who is revealed to the MC early on makes for a boring story. That wasn’t the case this time around!

Without spoiling anything, there were certain aspects of this novel that I felt didn’t get the closure it needed. I’ll have to check back in January to see the reviews of other readers. Regardless, I really enjoyed this retelling as it was different from ones I’ve read in the past. There were some truly funny moments, as Wren’s inner monologue can be hilarious to the point of me laughing out loud on numerous occasions. The romance was so SO good, and I would certainly recommend this to readers who enjoyed the works of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout. I am looking forward to reading the sequel when the time comes!

I loved everything about this book, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, lies and trickery, darkwalkers, gods and mortals, the characters and the world, I can not fault any of it.

The way that Alexandria brought the world to life was incredible.
I could feel the cold, hear the snow crunch under Wrens boots, smell the Frost King and see the sunsets.

I'm very much looking forward to the next installment "The West Wind"
Especially looking forward to learn more about Eurus, when the time comes.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Andromeda Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 - rounding up to 5 for GoodReads review.

I absolutely loved The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick. It's a lush and fully formed story tucked neatly within 550 pages. While the North Wind is the first in the Four Winds Series, it is itself a stand-alone that gives you a completed story and doesn't leave you languishing in Cliffhangers-ville for a year dying for some kind of conclusion. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciated this. As a fantasy reader, this is usually our cross to bear, but Alexandria has very kindly opted against this. Now I'm even more excited for the second book because I know I'll be getting a full story within its pages.

The North Wind is a Beauty and the Beast/Hades and Persephone style story that still feels fresh. Wren is a wonderfully flawed heroine who battles her own demons and The North Wind himself, Boreas, is compelling and layered. This fantasy romance is a slow burn that definitely develops more spice toward the last 20%. This book hit some of my all-time favorite romance tropes, while still managing to surprise me at the end. Alexandria Warwick succeeds in making this relationship feel earned and doesn't fall prey to the insta-love romance style so many books lean into these days.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loved Raven Kennedy's Plated Prisoner Series, Scarlett St. Clair's Hades & Persephone, Jennifer L. Armentrout or Elise Kova's Married to Magic series.

I definitely suggest you give this new series a try when it releases, because I was surprised and immediately sucked in to to the world of The North Wind, unable to put my kindle down for two days until I reached its conclusion.

Thank you so much to Xpresso Book Tours for giving me a arc on NetGalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Here is my review:
My favorite parts about this book were: the strong/witty/beautiful but doesn’t think she’s beautiful MC, enemies to lovers, and I love a villain that you get to see who they truly are. If those are things you also enjoy reading about, this book is for you. This book was suggested to me by a fellow book lover so I knew I would like this read, I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down and I’d finish it in one sitting! This is the first book I’ve read by the author Alexandria Warwick and I was so impressed with her work! I truly enjoyed the way she built so much detail into her writing, it was so easy to feel like I was there as I was reading.

4.5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher of providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.

I requested this e-arc on Netgalley thinking it was just another beauty and the beast retelling, nothing special but just a nice, predictable love story to read in between the books I actually want to read, like a palate cleanser. Once again I am reminded I shouldn't think so lightly of romance books or retellings... Because this book was so much more than a little light reading! Not that there's anything wrong with that - it's just that this book took me by surprise and kept me on the edge of my seat, finishing it in a few days.

This story is about Wren, a young woman taking care of her twin sister after their parents' death. When the Frost King comes to take his next sacrifice, Wren does everything she can to protect her sister - even taking her place. As the Frost Kings prisoner, she vows to make him suffer for all the pain and eternal winter he's caused. For the death of her parents and for the lives of those in her hometown Edgewood. She must find a way to kill the immortal King, to be able to return to her sister and save the land they live in.

This book being a retelling, we all know how it ends, sort of. There are some familiar themes, like the library and the having dinner part. But there are also a good many original new additions to the story. I loved how there was Greek mythology woven into this story! Besides that, this is a very well-written story. I never once felt bored for knowing what would come next, because frankly, I didn't. I almost read through the night because I wanted to know how it ended! It was action packed at times, and slowing down at others. It all felt just right. It has a good amount of sarcasm, of anger and of determination. And of vulnerability, of choosing yourself. It made me chuckle and it made me clench my heart for all of the feelings this book made me feel.

This book is definitely on my list of favourite retellings ever! If you're looking for a great enemies to lovers story, with some dark vibes, mythology and some steam thrown in for good measure, look no further!

A refreshing and a wonderful version of beauty and the beast of which I cannot get enough. Loved the writing style of the author.

A cold frost King and a rebellious queen... And the rest is history...
❤️❤️❤️❤️

This book was absolutely amazing! I was prepared for a spicy book but in fact I got a true enemies to lovers romance. I really felt like the main character had depth and a motivation to everything she did. Was it predictable yes! Do you get your HEA? Yes! Also the tension in this book was some of the best I have ever read!

Words can't describe how much I LOVED this book!! If you are a fan of fantasy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn and spicyness - this is the book for you! (This is 100% a NA fantasy/ 18+)

The story goes: Wren and her twin sister are mortals, and live just outside of the 'shade'. The north wind, who is a god, has to take a wife to hold back a curse. Wrens sister is meant to be chosen - however she slips in instead. I won't go into what happens after, but it is a wild ride!

This is a beauty and the beast/ hades and persephone retelling - and its done so so well! The first half of the book, there is a lot of world building, although its written so well I could of read pages and pages. Once you get into it, the pace really does quicken.

I loved Wren and the north winds relationship - it has to be one of the best enemies to lovers I have read this year (and it doesn't even come out until January!) Plus, the north wind is very much swoon worthy...

I will definitely be reading more of Alexandrias work, as she writes so well - I didn't want the book to end! I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

The mark of a five star book for me personally is not necessarily one that is the most eloquently written or explores deep truths about life, but rather a book that sucks you in and doesn't let you go. A five star book for me is one that you willingly give up hours of sleep to get one more chapter finished and think about all day until you can pick it up again. A book that is thoroughly enjoyed for both it's good and it's bad. This is one of those books. Now, this book should go right alongside other "faerie smut books on the shelf. It may not be winning any literature awards, it has it's share of moments of teeth-gritting cringe and eye-rolling cheese. But, I enjoyed every delicious moment of it. I would classify this under one of my guilty pleasure books. There's tons of steam and every fantasy romance trope you can think of, and a couple of plot holes, but for some reason, it all works. And it works well. (Even though it totally shouldn't.)

North Wind is an enemies to lovers fantasy romance that has roots in the Scandinavian folk tales of the North Wind and the Polar Bear King. It also reads as a retelling of Beauty and The Beast. It feels familiar but not overdone, while also having new elements that equally make it feel fresh. There was plenty of action and adventure, slow burn romantic tension, family rivalry, two very stubborn main characters, and a plot to save a dying kingdom. It really had it all the great stereotype romance book moments from the knife to the throat, only one bed at the inn, tortured soul who actually isn't as bad as he seems, juicy goodness. The first half was drawn out perfectly and then later in the book things seemed a little rushed and there were even a few points where things didn't make sense, but for some reason it didn't matter to me because reading it was pure, simple fun and the good parts so outweighed any of the critiques I had that I didn't care that it had some flaws. This may a book you either love or hate but I happened to love all of it.

TW: Alcoholism, parent loss, death, war and minor gore, sex.

Actual rating: 4.50 rounded up to 5 🌟
**Thank you Netgally and Xpresso reads for this ARC. 🖤
I'm utterly blown away by how much I've enjoyed this!
What's not to like?
"Slow burn" Amazing "enemies to lovers" phenomenal. "Arranged marriage" tope tire. "Knife to the throat" couldn't get better.

The North Wind was emotionally gripping. It has plot wise cought my attention since page one. I'm very intrigued about the rest of winds to say the least, even Zephyrus, especially him.
He'd be bff with Jacks, they're the same breed, tricksters.
The sisterly bond between Wren and Elora made me really jealous, I've always wanted a sister. And I know I would've loved her as fiercely as Wern loved Elora.

I'm really excited for the next installment.

I liked this more than I thought I would! I found the world it was set in a bit confusing at times, but that didn’t detract from the rest of the narrative for me. I liked the main character a lot too and liked seeing her struggles written down as it wasn’t something I’d read before. There’s definitely some serious romance in here l, but there’s also a story which I appreciated. Overall, I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series and by this author.