I want to start by saying I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read the ARC for The North Winds.

When I seen this book was a Beauty and the Beast retelling I immediately jumped on the chance to read this. Sadly it missed the mark for me. The writing style didn’t flow easily for me and I found I was really having to push myself to pick this one up and finish it. The storyline had so much potential and I’m sure many people will love it, it was just really missing something that I can’t place my finger on. I didn’t particularly love the main characters personalities. I found it hard to enjoy anything regarding Wren. The pace was very slow and just not what I was really expecting going into it.

I was able to get an eARC from netgalley and Saga Press , so thank you so much!! I really enjoyed this book, and it kept me intrigued from the start. It definitely had me hooked with the Beauty and The Beast meets Hades and Persephone feel. It is definitely a hook worth picking up, and I would def be getting this book for my bookshelf! It reminds me a lot of Acotar which I absolutely love and Wren and Boreas remind me so much of rhys and Feyre 🥺 I just can't wait for the second book. Go pick this book up because it's so worth it!

I loved it, what a fantastic read! It definitely gave a Beauty and the Beast retelling throughout the entire book, and I was here for it. I would have loved to know more backstory on how The North Wind picked the wives and ultimately what happened to all of them, but that was just me wanting the story to continue. I’m excited to read West Wind. I’m sure I’ll get more world building through that one.

It was a delightful fantasy read. Thank you to S&S Saga Press and author for the ARC!

The North Wind
by Alexandria Warwick
Pub Date: May 21 2024

Wren of Edgewood is no stranger to suffering. With her parents gone, it’s Wren’s responsibility to ensure she and her sister survive the harsh and endless winter, but if the legends are to be believed, their home may not be safe for much longer.

For three hundred years, the land surrounding Edgewood has been encased in ice as the Shade, a magical barrier that protects the townsfolk from the Deadlands beyond, weakens. Only one thing can stop the Shade’s fall: the blood of a mortal woman bound in wedlock to the North Wind, a dangerous immortal whose heart is said to be as frigid as the land he rules. And the time has come to choose his bride.

When the North Wind sets his eyes on Wren’s sister, Wren will do anything to save her—even if it means sacrificing herself in the process. But mortal or not, Wren won’t go down without a fight…

The North Wind is a stand-alone, enemies-to-lovers slow-burn fantasy romance, the first in a series sprinkled with Greek mythology.

DNF at 63%

I was promised a steamy enemies to lovers Beauty and the Beast retelling, and what I got was bland, boring, and irritating.
Wren is incredibly unlikeable. If you took the most annoying parts of Nesta and Feyre from ACOTAR and put them in one person, you'd get Wren. Her sister Ellora is 100% Elain. Boreas is bland. The plot is slow and plodding, and I'm honestly not sure I can find the point to it.
Also, something that has bugged me from the beginning....they are in a cold and desolate land where hardly anything grows. And yet EVERYONE HAS WINE! WHERE IS THE WINE COMING FROM? Even if Boreas has access to other places that can grow things, Wren makes it clear she didn't know those places existed. So where do the people in her town get wine?!
And by 63% in, there's been no real movement on the "to lovers" part, so the burn is just too slow.

Ugh so sorry, but many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

In “The North Wind,” Wren takes the place of her sister to go to the home of The Frost King during a ritual where he takes a maiden from the village every century. The world is filled with snow, dark creatures, and isolation. I had a hard time connecting with this story because I’ve read other Beauty & the Beast Retellings. I thought the world-building was easy to understand, and I liked the concept of the Four Winds.

For those who enjoy:
🌬️Beauty and the Beast Retelling
🌬️Hades and Persephone Retelling
🌬️Strong-willed FMC
🌬️Romantasy
🌬️Enemies-to-lovers
🌬️Forced Proximity

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is easily one of the best fantasies I've ever read. It is so deeply emotional and the truest enemies to lovers I've come across. Alexandria Warwick has such a way with writing her characters; they feel so incredibly human.

I can't say enough good things about this book, truly!

I received this book via NetGallery thanks to Saga Press Books!

Tropes: One Bed & Enemies to Lovers

TW: Alcoholism

I must first apologize to my family for ignoring you while I read this book, it was too good to put down!

I am a huge fan of enemies to lovers books, but not a fan of slow burn anything. I’m just too impatient. That being said, this slow burn may have changed my mind! This beautiful, magical, action packed retelling of Beauty and the Beast was beyond anything I expected.

This story is told through the POV of the main character, Wren, a young woman that lives in the village of Edgewood under the power of The Frost King (also known as The North Wind). She resides in a small home with her identical twin sister, Elora. Wren is headstrong, selfless, intelligent, resourceful, and definitely not afraid to speak her mind...Wren also suffers quietly all the burdens of taking care of her sister, and turns to alcohol to drown out her sorrows

Wren does everything in her power to ensure that Elora has as easy a life as possible.

“All my life I cared for you,” I whisper to my sister, my twin. We shared the same womb. “It was my greatest pride, providing you a good life. There was nothing I would not do for you. Nothing. I sold my body for coin. I risked life and limb fighting darkwalkers. I hiked hundreds of miles every month searching for food. I never complained, not once in all those long, difficult years.”

The village is expecting the return of The Frost King, every so often the powerful god comes to their village to select a woman sacrifice. He is expected any day and a group of 7 women have been selected as potential sacrifices, Elora being one of them.

Wren has vowed to do anything she can to protect Elora from being selected by the King. When The Frost King selects Elora, Wren devises a plan to switch places with her sister.

As she leaves behind Edgewood and the only family she has left, Wren is prepared to meet her fate. Until she learns that the women The Frost King takes are not sacrificed, they become his wife!

Boreas, The Frost King (aka The North Wind), is in charge of winter, as well as judging souls and sentencing them to either a pleasant afterlife or to one filled with torment. He is aloof, reserved, distrustful, judgemental, has high expectations, and unforgiving. However, once he starts to soften, he can be gentle, playful, teasing, and supportive. Boreas very much reminded me of Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice. I do wish we had gotten his POV in the book.

Wren & Boreas start off as enemies, with Wren trying to plot how to kill an immortal god on a daily basis. Their relationship turns from hate to one of friendship in this slow burn tale and I was so engrossed in this ever changing relationship. They went from hating each other, to tolerating each other, to joking around, and eventually being open with one another about their pasts and the difficulties each has suffered. They found comfort in each other and were able to slowly tear down the walls each of them had built.

Boreas turns his head so that I’m given a view of his face in profile. “I, too, know what it’s like to be alone.” His eyes lift, the blue so pure and unguarded I feel as though I am seeing him for the first time. “Maybe we can be alone together.”
There were spicy scenes sprinkled throughout the book once they started to tolerate each other that provided just enough smut to move their friendship from platonic to romantic.

This book didn’t just have romantic action, it had action action as well. The battles that ensued due to the darkwalkers and the magical Shade that was losing its power was so exciting. I felt so tense reading these sections and kept having to remind myself that Boreas was immortal.

I also really enjoyed Wren’s journey with self love. She was constantly putting others' needs ahead of her own. She never felt like she was worthy of having her needs met. Despite being an identical twin, she felt that she was undesirable and unworthy, while she viewed her sister as an extraordinarily beautiful woman. Throughout the story she learns that her needs are valid, and that she has to put herself first. Boreas also helps her to see her true self.

“These are my lies: Boreas is my enemy. Elora comes first. I want to return home. These are my truths: Boreas is my husband. My needs come first. I am already home.”

There were so many turns of events and situations I didn’t see coming, this novel is full of heartache, romance, betrayal, battles, magic, growth, love, cake, and smut.

I would definitely recommend this and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I received a copy of this book by Netgalley (Thank you, Saga Press). All opinions are my own and these are my honest opinions.

This book has:
✅️Beauty and the Beast retelling
✅️ One bed
✅️Hate to love
✅️Arranged/Forced marriage
✅️Broody MMC


This is a very unique Beauty and the Beast retelling. When I first began reading this book, I was getting ACOTAR vibes, but it turned out to be so much different in a good way.

Wren and her twin sister lost their parents at 15. Wren has been taking care of her sister Elora even before their parents died. Every 30 years, The North Wind God Boreas takes an unwed woman from the village for unknown reasons.

This story sends us on a journey of learning about Wren and all the sacrifices she's made for those she loves and what Boreas does with the women he takes.

What I personally loved: I loved that Wren was a flawed character that we were able to see grow. Her views on a lot of things in her life changed over time as she grew. Boreas was flawed too and we got to see him grow over time too.
My only drawback to this book was that there are some things that didn't feel well wrapped up with how things ended. There are things that I wish were explained a bit more.

If you love Beauty and the Beast and want to read a story with those vibes, then you will love this book.

If you also really enjoy an enemy to lovers situation, then this book will have you in a chokehold until the glorious end.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! The North Wind was a good read for those looking for a beginner romantasy. This is a very slow burn, but once there romance unfolds it is a very sweet love story with the right amount of spice. The romance, though, is the only part readers have to work for. Most of the other information surrounding the politics and characters is given up rather easily (which is why I think this would better as a beginner romantic fantasy). I think the plot would be strengthened by clearer world building and character development, and I think the fantasy elements were a bit shaky for those who are used to more political/high fantasy reads. For that reason, I would suggest this book to romance readers over fantasy readers. However, the story itself was unique. The characters are flawed in a way that makes this story stand out from other romantic fantasies. The MMC, while known as a terrifying evil king, is actually rather socially awkward and emotionally immature. The FMC is hardly ever described using her appearance; instead, the focus is on her brash and "un-ladylike" personality. This was a refreshing difference from other stories in this genre. Some major plot points were glossed over and I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I would have liked - but overall I would say this is a good, unique take on The Beauty and the Beast. Solid 3 star read!

In "The North Wind," the FMC Wren feels responsibility for her sister's survival as the magical barrier protecting their home weakens. To save her sister from being chosen as the bride of the dangerous North Wind, Wren prepares to sacrifice herself, sparking an enemies-to-lovers dynamic in this Hades and Persephone retelling. As the stakes rise and the winter's grip tightens, Wren navigates a path between duty, love, and self-preservation. This is a standalone book and the other books in this series focuses on the other brothers (the West Wind and South Wind).

I love this book and couldn’t put it down. The slow burn and tension was perfect. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves romantasy, Beauty and the Beast, or enemies to lovers.

While I loved this book, the pacing, and the storytelling, I did have a few questions, like what happened to all the past brides and how did the MMC turn into a darkwalker. I would have also loved a chapter or two from the MMC’s perspective.

Can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an e-arc.

A fiery FMC that has a very unhealthy coping mechanism and some underlying trauma that she has to accept. A MMC that’s the epitome of broody, who did this to you and has to learn what is important to him, love or power. Wren and the North Wind go through many different trials from the beginning of the book and have a very bumpy road before the end. I enjoyed that this was a standalone and not a series. It is so hard to find a good romantasy standalone.

This was an ok book. It had an enemies to lovers slow burn aspect which was nice. It also read as a beauty and the beast retelling, but it didn’t quite hit the mark.

This was a DNF for me. It just wasn't pulling me in. Might be for other readers, but just not for me.

***3.5 Stars***

Overall,
This book took me a while to get into, the beginning feels like many other romantasy genre books and has many similar plot lines, especially at the beginning, At its core this is a spin on Beauty and the Beast. For about the first 50% of this book I really didn't care for the heroine. By the time we get to more of the world building I did find my self getting more in to the book. It is an interesting world that Alexandria Warwick is putting together.

Recommendation,
For those who are fans of Beauty and the Beast retellings, ACOTAR, or really just the romantasy genre in general, this book is worth checking out. While it takes a little bit to get into I am looking forward to the next books in the series.

Pacing in this book is a bit slow but overall a pretty good romantasy. The romance doesn’t immediately take off in this book. The main characters start off as enemies, and the sparks ignite very slowly. It isn’t until maybe 75% through that they get together. There was great chemistry between the characters and the romance feels believable as their relationship evolved throughout the story.

Handful of tropes in this one - enemies to lovers, one bed, forced proximity, and slow burn.

Last, the representation of MFC’s alcohol abuse was done well. MFC is an alcoholic, and it’s shown how the addiction is justified by the MFC and how it impacts those around her. But she’s never shamed for it and the MMC helps her overcome the addiction. He acknowledged the problem and helps and supports her through the recovery.

If you're looking for a trope-heavy, cheesy book-this us the book for you! To be completely honest, the characters were wholly unappealing and so devisive that I couldn't find any empathy or enjoyment for any character. Additionally, the story is either too similar to Beauty and the Beast or just kinda men, that nothing really caught my attention.

I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings, but it wasn't giving me that vibe and missed the mark for me.

Wren is giving older sister syndrome to the max. Her number one goal and focus in life is to make sure that her sister has everything she wants and needs after losing both their parents. She completely loses herself as a person and turns to drinking to cope. That all changes when The North Wind, Boreas, a brooding immortal God, picks her sister to be his next bride. Wren commits the ultimate sacrifice of taking her sister place…which The North King does not find out until it’s too late! ⁣
⁣
I absolutely loved the banter between Wren and Boreas. The enemies to lovers trope was VERY strong throughout this book. I cannot wait to read The West Wind next! ⁣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⁣

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲: ⁣
🌬️ enemies to lovers⁣
🌬️ arranged marriage⁣
🌬️ slow burn ⁣
🌬️ beauty and the beast retellings⁣
🌬️ hades and persephone retellings ⁣
🌬️ fantasy romance⁣
🌬️ one bed

Every few decades a woman is taken as a sacrifice, and this year, Wren is the sacrifice. She is determined to not disappear as the others do and the longer she's there and sees what's happening, the more her opinions about Boreas begin to change. This is a fun, romantic fantasy with an enemies to lovers trope. I loved that she stood up to Boreas and wouldn't let anyone push her around. She stands her ground and fights for what she believes is right. Boreas may have though all mortals the same, but not with her. Characters are developed quickly and how they care for one another grows with them. The storyline moves quickly as we learn more about the world and those who live in it. Not everyone and everything is as it seems, so it is a page turning journey to see where things lead.