This was a fantastic fantasy. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

Witch Queen of Redwinter is the finale in Ed McDonald's Redwinter trilogy. And it has a looot to wrap up, given that the last instalment saw the start of the end of the world, and saw our heroine flung into an entirely different level of reality, whilst her ex-friend, now nemesis started the apocalypse, and her two best friends, both of whom she carrying a torch for, are less than pleased with her for some rather shoddy behaviour. So...lots to do. Does the story pull it off? Well, I think so. I had a good time with this one, and particularly enjoyed that even three books in, it was capable of surprising me. I think, on balance, that the series delivers on its promise, and this final novel sticks the landing pretty well to get us there.

Which brings us to Raine. The protagonist of the series, now wrapped up in seven shades of trauma. She's been betrayed, sacrificed friends, seen other friends murdered. She's fought demons from out of time and space, and dealt with the fact that some of her own magic is both deeply unpleasant, and would see her put to death if anyone knew about it. Raine has, honestly, had a bit of a time of it. Equally, that's shaped her, often not for the better. She can be cold and hard and lethal, uncaring and closed off, while at the same time yearning for some humanity, compassion and friendship. The Raine we have here is almost two people. One who thinks they need to do "what must be done", be it mass murder, using people like tools, or, you know, more discriminate, artisanal murder. That Raine is desperate to be an island alone, pushing her friends and connections aside in order to stop them from stopping her. On the other hand there's the Raine who knows that she needs those friends in order to be a person, in order to do anything worth a damn, in order to bring some humanity to being, you know, a necromantic magic user who can rip your soul out of your body and use it as a doormat. The tension between these two halves is a struggle for her, and it's hard not to empathise - though she's more able to realise her own agency here, Raine is still a creature of her past, of old hurts and old loves casting shadows from the past into the now. Her journey toward catharsis, toward recognising and absolving her own pain (whilst coincidentally causing her enemies to explode) has been a joy, and, well, a pain, and seeing it play out, seeing the shape that Raine pulls herself and the world into, in the end, is very much worth it.

Speaking of the world. We get to see all kinds of fun places this go around. Mostly notably the Fault, a weird not-reality filled with murderous undead, strange beasts, and shattered ruins from elsewhere and elsewhen. There's a crawling, sterile dread here, a sense that the other shoe is always about to drop, a sense that just existing in this space is inimical, is draining vitality and love and life from everything inside it, which either dies or turns homicidal as a result. Those of you who've read McDonald's other series, Blackwing may see some similarities here, in the eerie wasteland that is essentially a misery to get through. Still, the journey gives Raine time to try and deal with her baggage, and to work on her relationships with her friends, whom she absolutely definitely isn't in love with. And we also get to see more of the environs around Redwinter and the north, a place filled with peat glens and deep lochs, where all sorts of monsters and ancient legends lurk in the mist, ready to fuck up Raine's day - or those of her enemies, they aren't that picky.

Speaking of Raine's enemies - oh, they really are a bunch of small minded, awful people who just can't stop trying to make the universe all about their wants and needs, as opposed to just letting it be. Ovitus, in particular, returning for another round of being a terrible person, just has so much main-character syndrome it's untrue. And I am here to tell you that the story delivers on Raine's efforts to both save the world and get revenge. It has towering monsters. It has bloody, kinetic, occasionally unpleasantly graphic battles that don't flinch away from the cost, and show how glory is always soaked in blood. It has romance and found families, and the kind of raw emotion that makes your heart ache. And it wraps the whole story up with a denouement that left everything feeling, if not settled, then, well, done. The story delivers on tying up all the loose ends, on making us care, and on giving us a tale that puts your heart in your mouth and lets you sob and cheer in equal measure.

Anyway, it was a good time, and well worth the read!

Witchqueen of Redwinter is an amazing conclusion to Ed McDonald’s Redwinter Chronicles. This final installment delivered an enchantingly dark narrative, seamlessly weaving heart-pounding action, profound character growth, and a world of danger and wonder.

Raine Wildrose has come a long way since the first book, and her transformation into a formidable wielder of the Sixth Gate’s power was an epic character arc I absolutely loved. Raine is powerful but flawed, torn between her growing command of her Sarathi abilities and the love she feels for Esher and Sanvaunt. Her internal struggle is as compelling as the external battles she faces, adding rich emotional stakes to the already high-stakes conflict.

McDonald’s world-building has always been stellar, but in this book, it ascends to new heights. The depiction of the Fault, a haunting, liminal space inhabited by half-dead creatures and ominous Fallen Lords, is so vivid that it felt like I was right there, bracing for whatever horror might emerge next. The dual settings of the Fault and the castle at Harranir create a gripping parallel narrative, and the pacing is masterfully balanced. The slow-burn tension in the first half crescendos into a heart-stopping, blood-soaked finale that left me breathless.

McDonald doesn’t shy away from exploring the heavy costs of power, love, and sacrifice. Raine’s journey is not just about saving the world; it’s about finding the strength to hold onto her humanity in the face of unimaginable loss. The relationships, particularly the dynamic between Raine, Esher, and Sanvaunt, are beautifully written, filled with longing, jealousy, and moments of raw vulnerability that make these characters unforgettable.

The ending of this series is absolutely brilliant. McDonald ties up every thread in ways that are as surprising as they are satisfying. The resolution is steeped in both triumph and tragedy, making it a conclusion that will linger long after the last page.

If you’re a fan of dark, intense fantasy with morally complex characters, a vividly imagined world, and a finale that pulls no punches, The Redwinter Chronicles is an absolute must-read. Ed McDonald has crafted a trilogy that is equal parts harrowing and beautiful, and I cannot recommend it enough.

I don't understand why Ed McDonald would do this to me. It does feel like he wrote this book specifically to spite me. It was a terrible ending to a series that I really enjoyed. I've been looking forward to this book since I finished the second one and it was so disappointing. I wish I hadn't read it.

2.5/5 stars - rounded down because of my sadness.

This brings the Redwinter Chronicles to a close with a war that threatens to unravel everything. But while the plot hurtles toward its conclusion with incredible intensity and high stakes, the character-driven heart of the series feels sidelined in favor of the resolution. Honestly, most of this book was me understanding and appreciating the choices that McDonald made to close out this trilogy, but not liking them.

I do want to note that the narrator, Samara MacLaren, is exceptional here as always. I do not think I would have enjoyed this series nearly as much without her amazing voice work. Highly recommend the audio (tandem with physical or ebook is always my favorite option).

One of the strengths of the earlier books was their focus on Raine and her relationships with incredible characters, both romantic and platonic. I was excited to see how these relationships would be developed in this final book. But the characters here seemed so far removed from what I had grown to love about them. Perhaps the point was that these were characters battered by war and that they had grown tired, but their spark has been snuffed out entirely here. These don't feel like the same characters that I've grown to love.

And while I loved that Raine was given the OT3 she deserved, it felt like the focus on their dynamic took a backseat to the overarching plot. Don't get me wrong - once Raine gets over her drama, the trio's connection is beautifully written, but the characters didn't feel like themselves, so it just felt disappointing.

Another aspect that left me conflicted was Raine’s emotional state. <spoiler>When she splits in two, she becomes both insecure and devoid of emotions </spoiler> and while it works conceptually, it still felt like a HUGE step back in her character arc. I understand why McDonald made this choice, and on paper, it makes sense. But emotionally, it created a distance between Raine and the reader that made it even harder to stay connected to her journey. <spoiler> And what she did to Castus was unforgivable.</spoiler>

That said, one thing I have zero complaints about is Ovitus. What a vile, entitled villain—one of the most infuriating antagonists I’ve ever come across, and I loved how his story concluded. It was pitch-perfect, no notes, exactly what he deserved. McDonald absolutely nailed it with his ending, and I have nothing but applause for how his arc was wrapped up.

The transition from character-driven storytelling to something far more plot-centric wasn’t necessarily bad—it just wasn’t what I loved most about this trilogy. The stakes are undeniably massive, the magic is fascinating, and the world continues to feel richly built and deeply atmospheric. But the emotional core that tethered me to the story didn’t hit as hard here.

There’s no denying McDonald’s skill at crafting tension and immersive worldbuilding, and the darker, bleaker tone fits the narrative stakes perfectly. But I wanted more time with Raine as a person, not just as a catalyst for the plot. Her character arc didn’t feel as satisfying as I’d hoped, and the quieter moments of connection and reflection felt fewer and farther between.

That said, the resolution WORKS? The ending ties things up in a way that feels purposeful and meaningful, even if it wasn’t a home run for me personally. Would I still recommend this trilogy? Absolutely. Would I say the conclusion fits the story being told? Yes. But did it leave me fully satisfied? Not even close.

For fans of dark, emotionally complex fantasy with intricate worldbuilding, this trilogy is still worth the journey. It’s bold, intense, and filled with memorable moments: I just wished for a more emotional ending to say goodbye to these characters.

Thanks SO much to Tor and Netgalley for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

This was a really solid ending to this trilogy!
I probably enjoyed it a bit less than the first two books but that might just be bc I read those back to back while it's been a year in between for this one.
Raine is just an amazing main character and I love her relationships to the people around her!
Also GAY!!

This book will be reviewed and featured on my instagram account : @emily_reads_everything. In addition, my goodreads account will have a starred rating, as well as one here. My GR account is linked in the profile of my instagram.

With the Witchqueen of Redwinter, Ed McDonald brings his Redwinter Chronicles to an intense conclusion, packed with dynamic relationships, desperate battles and rich language. Raine and her friends are seemingly trapped and Raine herself is torn between her dark powers and the love she has for Esher and Saunvant. The novel explores what we must truly hold onto or give up in order to save a world.
I truly appreciate, with this being the third book, that Ed McDonald includes a recap of the first two books. Given the timeframe between the books, it helped give my memory a bit of a boost on the narrative. Not only does Ed McDonald create a vivid world, creative magic and a gritty fantasy world but his characters struggle with morals and with their purpose. They are not perfect but instead are dynamic and caring individuals, even at their worst.
If you like dark and intense fantasy, this is one to pick up. I do recommend reading the first two books but if you have done so, this is an intense conclusion to the series, brilliant, coming up with a twist to the ending that I never would have foreseen. I loved how the resolution to the story comes together, in ways unexpected and beautiful.

I think the writing is really good and solid throughout the three-book series, but what stole the show was the dark and gritty world and the original magic system consisting of souls and gates. For this alone I thought The Witch Queen of Redwinter was very much worth reading. I just wished that it wasn’t so focused in the love triangle instead of, you know, the end of the world?

Since this is the third book in the series, I won't go into any details. I will just say that I had fun reading this series and I will look forward to see what Ed McDonald writes in the future.

Witch Queen of Redwinter? More like Whiny Bitch Queen of Redwinter.

I really enjoyed the first two books of the series. I was really looking forward to the final book in the trilogy. This was such a disappointment to end off the series with. To spend 50% of the book whining about love, not being in love, not being able to be in love, or being jealous of other people maybe being in love felt so excessive. But how else to end off 50% of the story being a whiny little bitch fest? Obviously with a threesome. Only obvious answer.
Raine went from a strong, interesting character to a character straight out of a bad YA romance novel that spends all their time and energy moaning about how dating is hard.

The last 50% of the book still had an awful lot of whining, just from a somewhat different perspective. If this had been the primary focus of the book, maybe I wouldn’t have been so upset by the quality of this book. But the first half dragged me down, and I just couldn’t bring myself to care much about the second half. Some of the ending should have been upsetting after growing to care about these characters in the first two books, but instead I just wanted the story to end. I didn’t love all of the directions the ending took either, but I might have felt differently about it if I cared more in general. It also made the actual ending feel really abrupt, despite it being what the trilogy is leading up to and being what the main focus of this book was.

I hope other readers get a lot more out of this than I did, because I really did enjoy the first two books. I want others to like it more than I did, but this really did just leave me feeling a bit whiny myself due to the disappointment of it.

The final book in the Redwinter trilogy picks up soon after the dramatic events that ended Traitor of Redwinter. I could not have predicted a more dramatic ending and this installment introduces readers to a strange new world that continues throwing in the unexpected. I must say, I really do love a weird, liminal reality full of strange monsters and abstract geography. It adds a certain horror vibe that works for me.
Raine, Sanvaunt, and Esher have been rudely trapped in the Fault, an area between worlds created long in the past to contain the Faded Lords and their ilk. It’s a world outside of time and the trio find themselves fighting wave after wave of nasty beasts, though they don’t need to eat or drink and only rest to replenish their magic and take a break from the onslaught. They’re trying to find the Queen of Feathers, thinking the entity behind the rise of the Sarathi witch queens will surely know how to return them to their own world and stop the dark entity behind Ovitus LacNaithe’s rise to power. While they’re trying to save the world the three are also trying to work through some very human emotions, namely their love for one another and Raine’s feelings of jealousy and indecision regarding Sanvaunt and Esher.
Back in the real world, Ovitus has been gathering the Draoihn and their military arm, the Winterra to campaign against those who won’t join him. His failure to steal his uncle’s magic has left him unable to muster the magic required to claim the Crown of Harranir and thus it remains free. His familiar, Waldy, is actually a physical manifestation of the dark entity of the Fault known as Iddin. Thanks to the unclaimed or lost Crowns across the world, the Fault is breaking through and the real world is being destroyed - earthquakes abound, monsters are pouring through rifts, and not even children are being born.
What impressed me the most about Witch Queen of Redwinter is how Ed McDonald managed to keep the Fault and the Real world plot lines both moving forward without lacking our main character. This next bit is spoilery, so if you want a complete surprise, just skip to the last paragraph. Raine, while in the Fault, has been trying to project herself to watch and speak to those back in Harranir, whether that be coordinating with allies or taunting Ovitus. During a particular moment of rage, she forces through so hard that she literally splits herself into two. Raine left in the Fault is a bit softer while the Raine who has forced herself back to Harranir is vengeful and is determined to destroy Ovitus no matter what - a true Witch Queen.
Overall, I enjoyed Witch Queen of Redwinter and I thought the ending was satisfying and somewhat unexpected. I often struggle with final books, mostly due to the fact that things either feel very rushed or decisions are out of character, so I’m super pleased with how this wrapped up. That being said, I did get a little bit of what I’ll call plot fatigue because it felt like some plot points were repeating too much. While this wasn’t my personal favorite of the trilogy, I think the series overall was pretty great and I can’t wait to see what Ed McDonald will write next!

The Witch Queen of Redwinter begins with a thoughtful recap, which I appreciated—it helped ground me back in the story without needing to revisit the previous book. This installment, however, felt slower-paced compared to earlier entries in the series. While the narrative delved deeply into the characters’ relationships, the heavy focus on the love triangle at times overshadowed other elements of the story.

That said, the book excels in tying together its various plot threads by the end, delivering a satisfying conclusion. The magic system remains a standout feature, both original and richly detailed, adding depth and intrigue to the world. Despite some pacing issues, fans of the series will find much to enjoy.

Great ending to a fantastic series.

Since this is the third book in the series, I won't go into any details. I will just say that I loved everything about this book and series. I have loved everything by this author. The characters are amazing. The magic is unique and very interesting. And that cover! Stunning!

If you're looking for a great fantasy series, you have to give this a go!

As this is the final book in this trilogy I will attempt to avoid any specifics or delve into anything that could stray into possible spoiler territory. The Redwinter Chronicles has been a true breath of fresh air for me as a fantasy reader for a number of reasons. First is it doesn't follow the usual formula or pattern that we see so much of in the genre these days. Another reason is the magic system is so original and involved that it really makes you think about the limitless possibilities of just how imaginative these elements can ultimately be going forward. Ed McDonald's brain functions on a whole other level and it shows in pretty much everything he writes.

What's truly impressive about this trilogy, and I've said this before, is just how different in tone, theme, and characterization in comparison to McDonald's previous more grimdarky trilogy, Raven's Mark. It just shows how versatile and multi-faceted McDonald's writing is that he can't be pigeon-holed into one specific subgenre or style. Where Raven's Mark was fairly straightforward and brilliantly gritty, Redwinter is just as brilliant but in a more thoughtful and classic (almost high fantasy) sense. And I think part of the reason why I enjoyed this latest series all the more is because of this change in direction.

I've described Redwinter as a "slow burn" type of reading experience and I think that this description gets a bit of a bad rap and has an unjust negative connotation at times. Robin Hobb and Tad Williams books can also be categorized this way and yet they are arguably two of the best writers of fantasy ever and I adore their books. So yeah, don't be put off by my saying that at all, fantasy books don't always have to be full blown pedal to the metal and constant battle scenes from beginning to end.

That being said, Witch Queen of Redwinter does have its stunning moments of action, as you would expect from a concluding book in a series. This final book delivered on every single promise made in the previous two and once again I am in awe of the way McDonald weaves together all of the plots and makes you care about his characters in such a way that the investment is super real when the climactic conflict does eventually take place. Just another brilliant book and series that solidifies McDonald as a must-read author. I can't wait until his next release because I'm sure it will be something completely different but a smash hit nonetheless. His track record speaks for itself.

And now the story of Raine Wildrose does come to an end. A little over a year ago, I was introduced to Ed McDonald’s spectacular fantasy series when I was offered an advance copy of Traitor of Redwinter. I hadn’t read the first book, but I was so intrigued by the concept that I binged the audio version of book one in order to get through book two by publication day. Now the trilogy has come to an end.

Previously, Raine learned that her lord and trainer among the Draoihn, Ulovar LacNaithe, was dying. As it happened, his strength of magic was being drained from him and channeled into his nephew, Ovitus LacNaithe. Under the manipulation of Sul, one of the Fallen Lords, Ovitus was positioning himself to take over the leadership of the Draoihn of Redwinter. Ulovar sacrificed himself to grant Raine the power she needed to escape Ovitus’s clutches, and Grandmaster Robilar sealed herself in stone to stop Sul. Ovitus, however, remains in power. Now he seeks desperately to access the Crown that lies beneath the castle at Harranir, but without access to the Fourth Gate of the Draoihn, he can’t gain entry to the Blackwell where the Keystone lies in store. No Keystone means no entry to the Crown itself. No Draoihn who remain loyal to Ovitus can access the Fourth Gate, and his own attempt to take his uncle’s was cut short by Ulovar’s death.

Raine’s connection to the Sixth Gate, the Gate of Death, is now undeniable. She is one of the Sarathi. She died a third time at Sul’s hands, only to be saved by Sanvaunt’s awakening of the Fifth Gate’s healing powers. Thanks to Esher and Sanvaunt’s intervention, all three of them managed to flee from Ovitus. Now, however, they are trapped in the Fault, a sort of in-between world filled with half-dead creatures and the other Fallen Lords. The trio’s only hope for survival lies with The Queen of Feathers, the mysterious woman who has been guiding Raine since the day she first met Ulovar. Raine believes her to be imprisoned somewhere within the Fault, but journeying anywhere there is a painful undertaking. Getting out of the Fault is only the beginning, though. Raine is filled with the memories of the other Sixth Gate users who came before her, and she must learn to use their power without losing herself if she and Sanvaunt and Esher are going to have any chance to save the world. Raine also desperately wants to save the two of them, but is torn between her love for each of them and their feelings for one another.

The Redwinter Chronicles very quickly became one of my favorite series. Ed McDonald has written a spectacular and clever fantasy version of the UK. Raine is a complicated protagonist, frequently conflicted in her choices due to her forbidden abilities to see the dead. Now coming into the full potential of her power, she’s going to be dealing with more difficult decisions than ever before. The fate of the world is at stake, and the only person who can save it is the one thing the people fear the most: a witch queen.

Witch Queen of Redwinter is available as of last Tuesday, November 12th. Go check it out. My utmost thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for a fair review.

This review originally appeared here: https://swordsoftheancients.com/2024/11/18/witch-queen-of-redwinter-a-review/

Witch Queen of Redwinter is the conclusion to the Redwinter Chronicles. A trilogy I have had my issues with but that I did continue to read. While I don't care much for our main character, there is something in the world building and magic system that pulled me back. It had potential. Unfortunately this installment did not fulfil this potential either.

Raine and her two friends have been taken into a magical wasteland. When we find them again, 6 months have already passed. They don't quite know how to leave and they don't know what they are really doing there. They are focusing on the tower to find the person that has appeared to Raine multiple times. Even if they aren't really sure if she is there.

Honestly, this book was quite a slog to get through. For the first part Raine is jealous and a bit insufferable. It wasn't fun to read. There is also a lot of focus on the relationshp between Raine and her companions. I am all in for a polyarmorous relationship if they are done well. Raine had her relationship with each of them but between the companions the tie wasn't quite so well established. I just didn't feel like it could truly work for them, that it had been build up well enough. And it was all a bit to idealistic.

But more so I struggled with the plot decisions. It almost recycles a point from the first book. Raine divides herself. The part of herself that returns to the 'real' world is without most of her emotions. I hated her not having her emotions in book 1 and I hated reading it again in this book. It was also just such a convenient way to work around the little hole the author had written himself in. Because we had no idea what was happening in their world while they were in the wasteland. But now we did, and hey did we really need a Raine with emotions for a war? It didn't help that 3 years had already passed for everyone else.

It did not make for a pleasant read. I felt so far removed from everything that I stopped caring at all about any of the side characters that I had liked.

Witch Queen of Redwinter is a fitting end to a series that boasted an incredible world, fascinating magic system, and a page-turning plot that hummed with mystery, intrigue, and betrayal. Many of the things that the series did so well come to a head in this final novel, including a triumphant showcase of magic at its height, a political and military campaign (this time against the literal end of the world), and characters finally confronting their issues which have been plaguing them since the start of the series. With the answers to long standing questions being dangled temptingly over both our heroes and the reader, the plot is certainly a page-turner, but there is a bit of a slow start that may or may not be further impeded depending on how much leeway you are willing to give to characters who are consumed by both destiny and a severe case of teen angst. While the book took some unexpected turns, this will be a delight to fans of the series.

The premise of this book made me read the entire series so that I could get to this in time for the release. While I enjoyed reading this, it pains me to admit that this book was, as much as the rest of the series, just ok and it did not make it into my favourites list.

I think the writing is really good, but what stole the show was the dark and gritty world and the original magic system consisting of souls and gates… For this alone I thought The Witch Queen of Redwinter was very much worth reading. I just wished that it wasn’t so focused in the love triangle instead of, you know, the end of the world?

I’m definitely curious to try other books by the same author.

Thank you so much to Tor Books and NetGallery for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The final installment of the Redwinter Chronicles. A well-written and engaging fantasy that didn’t end quite like I expected.

Thank you NetGalley and TOR Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a great conclusion of the series! It was what i’’d expected but at the same time it has satisfied me! I cry for the death of some characters and I love some of them that were new. It was a bittersweet ending and that worked just fine for the book!