The gripping fantasy book, The Dead of Winter captivates readers with a great balance of robbery and retribution, as well as a fast-paced plot and distinctive characters. The compelling female lead, Denya Augustine, assumes the persona of the Ghost of Vondar and fights the tyrannical monarchy for justice. The found family dynamic gave depth and was my favorite part of the book, but the intensity of the book from the very first page kept me interested. This fantasy novel sticks out from the crowd because to its exquisite cover design. Recommendation for anyone looking for a lighthearted and captivating read: excellent.

Well this one was a surprise! I really enjoyed this book and found it to be well written with a fast paced plot. I found that I was hooked from start to finish with this one. I do love a good fantasy heist book and this one did not disappoint. The world building was great and I felt that it was really well described. I enjoyed all the twists and turns that the author added to the story too.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I really enjoyed the writing style and fast paced nature of this book. I love a good heist and this delivered. It was easy to follow without feeling too basic and the characters were interesting. It left me wanting more from this world in future books.

Four and a half stars! I thoroughly enjoyed this one - I got about halfway through and then had a hard time putting it down. The setting, while definitely set in its own universe, reminded me of a pre-industrialized European country. I like the uniqueness of the power system, the way their abilities worked. I would read another book set in this world.

It didn't hook me as much as some other books I've read but was still very much enjoyable. I'm definitely considering getting a physical copy for my personal library.

The Dead of Winter is a thrilling fantasy novel that captivates with its fast-paced plot, unique characters, and a perfect blend of revenge and heist elements. Denya Augustine, the strong female lead, takes on the role of the Ghost of Vondar, seeking justice against the oppressive monarchy. The book's intensity from the first page kept me hooked, and the found family dynamic added depth and was my favourite part of the book. With a beautifully designed cover, this book stands out in the fantasy genre. Highly recommended for those seeking a refreshing and addictive read.

A fresh voice in fantasy romance! Arietta Charles has created a memorable world in The Dead of Winter. A fun read!

This book… I was really excited when I got this one, but it just didn’t capture my attention the way I had hoped. Totally a me thing, not the book. It was still a good read, I just expected more.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Arietta Charles LLC for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Revenge? Found family? And a strong female protagonist? SIGN ME UP!

The Dead of Winter by Arietta Charles is a fantasy novel about a girl named Denya Augustine, who was left orphaned and alone on the streets of Vondar’s capital as a child after her brother was hanged for stealing from the royal kitchens. The king sought to make her brother an example. She’s spent every moment since plotting how to take as much from the king as he took from her. Her answer? She becomes the Ghost of Vondar. She and her underground network don’t just help the people. As the Ghost of Vondar, she foils the king’s plans and influences politics, through blackmail, theft, and murder, against the king’s most ardent and wealthy supporters. Denya takes a reckless opportunity to break into a vault where the crown keeps dark objects and its deepest secrets, despite her gut telling her something is wrong. She soon discovers she’s not the only one plotting and scheming from the shadows and quickly learns what it is to confront a faceless phantom out to stop you. It becomes a race to unmask a hooded figure before they do the same to her. The future of Vondar depends on it. She’ll risk everything to keep the promise she made as she watched her brother swing from the king’s gallows. She’ll protect the people and have her revenge even if it means leaving the darkness for the light.

I though this book had an interesting premise with plenty of action to keep the pages turning. I just wished the pacing was a little more spread out, as it seemed to be a constant pedal to the medal. Which was fine, but I kind of wanted moments of lull to get to know the characters more. But overall, I loved this book and would it recommend it to anyone who dared to listen. I just wish there were more books set in this world.

Denya is approached by Argo Winters to retrieve his brothers and a magical artifact from the tower, a prison that has the reputation of being impenetrable. Denya accepts, but in the process gets a whole lot more than she bargained for.

Honestly I don’t think I understood what was going on at a single point in this book. The story the author wanted to tell was great, but what was executed was not. If you wanted Denya to be some mastermind death goddess that’s all well and good, but don’t have that be discovered in the last five pages. The ending was just so wild to me. I also just didn’t see Cadair and Denya as a couple at all. You can’t just have them “fall asleep next to each other” or have her tangled in his legs with zero explanation. Super confusing relationship statuses for everyone all around.

Denya is a woman on her own with a long list of grievances against the king. She has made it her mission to take down the monarchy and help those like her family who are in need and ignored. She has her ghostly best friend for support and a small network of trusted like-minded folks but she takes all the dangerous missions on her own. When her missions have her cross paths with a complex family of other magically gifted folks, they find that their desires align so they tenuously team up.

This one has lots of action and some really entertaining characters. I loved that the side characters were as well developed as the lead, they were quirky and fun and made a real impact on the progression of the story. The other thing I liked was that the love interests within the story had two totally different approaches (no spice in this one, which was a big plus for me). Denya was the type of level headed, practical heroine I want in a fantasy story. She was capable and supportive of her friends without sacrificing her mission.
Also, the story has a proper ending but certainly leaves the door open for more stories in this world.

This one has Six of Crows or The Gilded Wolves vibes. A little bit of caper, a little bit of revenge and a lot of darkness.

Thanks to the author for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

This book has a lot of good qualities, but it just felt unfinished. It was too fast-paced, and I didn't know what was going on for the first half of the book. The premise was intriguing, and I found Denya a very interesting character. Unfortunately, this wasnt enough for me. I do think, had the book contained more world builiding in the beginning, I would have enjoyed it more. I can see why others would enjoy this novel, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. Thank you, netgalley and Ariette Charles, for providing me with this arc!

The Dead of Winter is a fantasy novel by Arietta Charles, set in the fictional world of Vondar and with a fantastic array of protagonists who are largely driven by their wish for revenge: starting with Denya, the mysterious Ghost of Vondar who acts in an almost Robin Hood manner to support the impoverished locals, while acting as the innocent spinster during the day.
The action commences on the first page and we are pulled straight into the story with Denya finding herself forging a reluctant alliance with Arjo of the infamous the Winter family. Each member of the family that we meet is well-developed yet there remains an element of distrust with many of the characters and this adds to the overall excitement and pace of the novel. Denya, like the Winters, has magic and must keep her powers a secret from the Crown or face their wrath. They must now work together to free those who are imprisoned and overthrow the Crown, before paying the ultimate price for their actions.
I enjoyed the element of 'found family' and also how the interactions and relationships play out. There are numerous relationships within the novel and the relationship of LGBTQIA+ characters is treated as normal and everyday which is wonderful to see.
While The Dead of Winter acts as a great standalone novel, I would love to see a followup and the next adventures of our protoganists.
The cover is also gorgeous and would be a worthy addition to any bookshelf.

Book Review 📚
The Dead of Winter by Arietta Charles - 4.5/5 ⭐

Let me just say - I am not going to be happy if there isn't going to be a 2nd AND 3rd book following The Dead of Winter! I can't even say how amazing this book was. Wow. Awesome.

This book had you on your toes from the first page - there was no sluggish moments, no slow burns, nothing. It was just full on and intense. I LOVED it. There's no similarities to anything I've read before, it's so new and refreshing which I absolutely have fallen in love with. I need more.

The characters in The Dead of Winter are so amazing. They're strong and different to each other in so many ways. I love the FMC, she's what you love to read. The character development throughout is phenomenal and really makes you want more. It's become an addiction to the characters!

As always it was the cover that drew me in, it's utterly beautiful and definitely something that'll catch your eye. The story just makes it a thousand times better!

Thank you to NetGalley and Arietta Charles for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

The Dead of Winter by Arietta Charles
Pub. Date: October 5th, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

I would like to thank @NetGalley and @ariettacharles for sending me a free copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Denya has been working tirelessly to topple the monarchy over the past years. Acting as the Ghost of Vondar, she gets rid of anyone in her way until one of the Winter men knocks on her door. She's quickly asked to help them in a heist. Even though she knows in her gut that something is wrong, she accepts the challenge only to uncover something bigger and darker.

That book was quickly paced and full of twists and turns. Arietta Charles did a good job at making us wonder if any of the characters were trustworthy. Interesting paranormal elements were added to the story making it mysterious.

This is a great debut novel I recommend if you're looking for a well written victorian urban fantasy that is light and easy to read. Make sur to preorder your copy before October 5th!

Great fantasy read! I am really hoping for another book with these characters! Fun, unique story that i couldn't put down. I am looking forward to reading more by this author. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review!

Revenge is always a good read but when it is to do with establishment or the Crown you really don't know what to expect. Denya is a very rich spinster but is also a reader. She can talk to the dead. Denya is asked by Arjo Winter the head of the richest family in the Kingdom for help. The Winter family is made up of many gifted individuals and one of their brother's has been incarcerated in the Tower. All people with magic powers are being given a choice work for the Crown or you go to the Tower. A very unusual heist takes place and this is only the beginning. Ghosts demons and so much more. A very enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

This was an interesting story to say the least. I loved the entire plot and characters and thought the world building was spot on. I do wish that the cover would have been more eye catching as it looks a tad off but the story inside is worth the read.

This was such an enjoyable book and completely unlike anything I’ve recently read!

One thing in particular I absolutely loved was how fast paced this book was, without the storyline ever feeling too “rushed.”
I found the plot to be thoroughly engaging and I truly struggled to put this one down! Really enjoyed the whole revenge aspect and the heist plot!

I really enjoyed the characters in this book, particularly the FMC, Denya. I always love a strong lead character and this book delivered that perfectly.

Lastly, the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful. Definitely something that would grab my attention if I saw it in store!

Highly recommend this one if you enjoy fantasy and characters with very unique abilities.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Arietta Charles for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC 💜

The Dead of Winter offered a unique story with a protagonist that really wanted to root for. The writing was great and the world was interesting enough to keep me hooked.