The North Wind is a recommended read! This novel is perfect for fans of epic fantasy, mythic reimagining, romantasy and strong Fantasy world-building with a resilient female protagonist.

Warwick infuses this dystopian-esque fantasy world with Greek mythology. The world-building is exquisitely detailed with the Shade, a magical barrier safeguarding inhabitants from the perilous Deadlands beyond. In a dystopian-style world where the weakening of the Shade can be remedied by a mortal woman wed to the North Wind or Boreas, a formidable god. The North Wind includes elements reminiscent of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ fairy tales, the protagonist Wren sacrifices herself in her sister’s place to wed Boreas. Warwick explores Wren’s own journey, exposing her flaws and the consequences of her decisions as she struggles with the emotional toll of her decision.

The North Wind has an interesting and well-crafted world-building in a wintry world. Warwick keeps up the pace in this fantasy romance, and while there is the common romance trope of ‘enemies-to-lovers’, the well-developed tension between Wren and Boreas sees their relationship unfold in an natural manner which avoids the pitfalls of a cliché. The characters are relatable and well-defined and the explorations of Wren’s personal struggles and flaws enhances this novel and its appeal.

Enemies to Lovers done right!! This was full of angst and push and pull and I loved every moment of the slow burn! I really loved how headstrong Wren was, and how she persevered throughout the story through her marriage as well as sobriety. I also loved Boreas, and can totally relate to his awkwardness socialising. These two together were so entertaining, I loved the Hades x Persephone and Beauty and the Beast features of the book because while they are well known stories, this still felt fresh and interesting!! I really loved the history of the four Winds as well as the magic, I am super intrigued to learn more about the brothers as well as unravel more about the world and the magic system! Zephyrus will surely be a very interesting love interest in the next book, will definitely be continuing on with this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.

A fun, if a little predictable, fantasy romance that I enjoyed as a popcorn read. I would have given it 4.5 stars but had to drop a half-star for the epilogue, as I hate when romances end that way. I'm so late in reading this that the West Wind is already out and on my bookshelf, so I'll be glad to read that one too soon.

This novel has gone absolute gangbusters in recent months and I can appreciate why it is popular. To me, it was very stereotypical romantasy where the protagonist chooses herself. It has been compared to a certain fairy series of recent years and I can definitely see where those comparisons are coming from.

For those who love the dark and broody fae and the woman who is determined to protect themselves from falling for him, this is definitely for you. I just wish there was more nuance. The premise was fantastic and I was so excited for this one; the overarching story was readable but it unfortunately didn't scratch the itch or meet my expectations.

Great for those who love ACOTAR, Kerri Maniscalco's Princes of Sin series and Amber V Nicole

4.5 stars rounded up on here. Really enjoyed this one. Can definitely feel the Beauty and the Beast influence and has some ACOTAR vibes with the way Wren cares for her sister and is the hunter and provider. So when the North wind comes to take her sister away she of course takes her place.
A true hate to love/enemies to lovers story. Where the good guys might not be so good and the bad guys not so bad.
Would recommend and looking forward to the next book.

4⭐ | A Frosty, Fiery Enemies-to-Lovers Romantasy

If you’ve ever wished ACOTAR stopped after book one because you’re a Tamlin stan, wanted Feyre to have more personality, or can’t resist a well-executed one bed trope, The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick needs to be on your TBR. It’s a mysterious, atmospheric romantasy with just enough tension and heart to keep you hooked.

The story follows Wren, a feisty FMC with a people-pleasing streak, and Boreas, the enigmatic North Wind god, who must take a mortal bride every few decades to maintain a magical barrier. Their dynamic is exactly what enemies-to-lovers fans crave—knife-to-throat moments, sizzling banter, and the slow realization that they’re far more alike than they’d like to admit.

Warwick’s writing is lyrical and immersive, pulling you into a world cloaked in icy tension and hidden dangers. While the pacing occasionally dragged, the beautiful prose and evolving relationship between Wren and Boreas kept me invested. Their romance is raw and emotional, exploring vulnerability and trust in a way that feels real. And yes, the one bed trope? Absolute perfection—bonus points for the “back pain” banter!

What sets this book apart is its thoughtful character development. Wren’s struggle with alcoholism, her complicated relationship with her sister, and her journey to self-worth are handled with depth and care. Boreas, for all his grumpiness, isn’t your typical brooding MMC—he’s layered, with his own scars and insecurities that make his thawing heart all the more satisfying to watch.

The world-building, while intriguing, felt slightly underdeveloped. I wanted to know more about the gods, the barrier, and the dark forces lurking beyond it. That said, the book balances romance and fantasy well, leaning more heavily on the romantic side, which might not work for everyone but hit the spot for me.

Why You’ll Love This Book:
❄️ Enemies-to-lovers with genuine tension
❄️ A refreshing Hades x Persephone vibe
❄️ Beautiful prose that immerses you in the world
❄️ Emotional depth exploring themes of grief, love, and self-worth

A Few Quibbles:
❄️ Pacing drags in parts, making it a slower read
❄️ Fantasy elements could have been more fleshed out

I’m already counting down to book two, hoping for even more world-building and a deeper dive into the trickster brother hinted at in this installment. If you’re looking for a romantasy that brings the angst, the banter, and a touch of frostbite, The North Wind is the one to pick up!

This book was a slow-burn romance, with Beauty and the Beast vibes, and while I liked many aspects of it, I also wanted more from the story.
There were many unexplained parts, many things I would have liked more detail, more information about.
I did like the characters, and I'm intrigued about Zephyrus and his book. I'm not sure what to think about him, after the events in this book.
Overall, I did like this, but I just thought it could have been so much more.

I received a copy of The North Wind through NetGalley. My thanks to the publisher. Based on the storyline, I couldn’t wait to start reading. I was hooked from the start, but the pace slowed down before long and I wriggled off the hook fairly regularly. However, the ending was very satisfying.

This is a Romance Fantasy and I enjoyed visiting the imaginary land of the North Wind, King of Winter. The author did well to build the tension between the king and the main character, Wren, although he was more patient with her than I would have been.

It reads like Young Adult fiction, but be aware there is explicit sex depicted in the last third of this book.

Overall, a somewhat enjoyable read, with a very sweet ending, but didn’t quite hit the mark as a page turner.

The North Wind, by American author Alexandria Warwick, is the second work in the romantasy genre that this reviewer has ever read. It allows this reviewer to avoid being affected by too many other readers whose comments centre on how similar or different this book is to other titles in the genre.

The first book in the Four Winds series, The North Wind is a standalone story “inspired by Beauty and the Beast and the myth of Hades and Persephone” as described by the publisher. It is interesting that literary tropes like these may serve as points of reference, making it easier for publishers and authors to connect with readers.. But tropes can be and often are the first criterion for assessing a book's performance.

For example, the story's first-person narrator Wren is a reminder of Katniss in The Hunger Games, a huntress who volunteers to take her sister's place. In this case, Wren is to be sacrificed to the North Wind, also known as the Frost King and bringer of winter. Her blood will be used to sustain the Shade, the barrier that protects her hometown from the icy Deadlands.

Thanks to the author's rich and vivid descriptions, the Deadlands is a fascinating place. The rivers Les and Mnemenos, the brothers Sleep and Death, the judgement of the dead, the City of Gods and the towns of Neumovos and Makarios – not to mention the darkwalkers – these give new meanings to the notion of eternality.

Meanwhile, Boreas is more of a traditional character, like the handsome, arrogant, broody, antisocial, often misunderstood yet ultimately immortalised Mr Darcy that is the favourite of all (female) readers. With his characterisation entirely done through the eyes of Wren, the author ensures that Boreas captures readers' hearts in the story's enemies-to-lovers process.

In contrast, Wren is presented with all of her virtues and flaws, her fervent motives and hidden agendas, and her triumphs and failures. This allows readers to judge her, and makes one wonder whether her portrayal as a strong female character would be any different if the story were written from Boreas's or a third person's perspective.

With that said, Wren is feisty and stubborn, and while she is loyal and fearless, she is also broken and deeply insecure. Her evolution and redemption is subtly handled, and gives emphasis to other factors that contribute to her relationship with Boreas. It is a relationship where both parties are able to find their lost selves in their discovery of each other.

The North Wind achieves a healthy balance between romance and fantasy and a refreshing re-imagination of myths and fairy tale. This reviewer looks forward to reading the other books in the series.

I do love a good fantasy and this one had me hooked from the start. This is fantasy, there is romance and it is inspired by the Beauty and the Beast which had me intrigued. Wren of Edgewood has lost her parents and is looking after her sister in a harsh fantasy world. But how does she protect her from the North Wind?

This is a book that oozes atmosphere, the descriptiveness is wonderful and the writing draws you in. This book took me on a journey of which I felt a part of, each paged turned brought me something new and exciting. I loved every aspect of this book and story. And although a slow burn it builds well and kept my interest so I was never bored and never wanted to skip anything.

A great read and I look forward to seeing what comes next. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I couldn't even finish it. I feel like it had all the tropes at the start of the book but at the same time moved very slowly. I feel like the author wanted to give an air of mystery but what we got was an air of annoyance. I never disliked an FMC so much in my life, and the MMC just didn't cut it. it was bleh!

I had a love/hate relationship with Wren, I felt bad for her for how her parents expected her to always look after her twin sister Elora. Wren did so a lot of veey questionable stuff but considering how she grew up it's kind of understandable. Elora was just plain selfish and a spoilt brat. Boreas honestly came across as being autistic but had a heart of gold and I loved how he came out of his shell slowly.

THIS BOOK. One of my new favourites, this story kept me enraptured from the start to the finish. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with some Hades crossover.

There are some similarities with another popular series, but it pushed through those and paved its own path. The story is excellent, and I really liked Wren. The romance is spot on, although I am a big fan of slow burn. Also the 'only one bed' trope gets me EVERY TIME without fail.

Absolutely loved it, and I am very eager to read the next one!

I enjoyed this story more than expected and am looking forward to seeing whats next. I loved the FMC interactions, her motivations and how much she grew. There were a few moments where I thought the plot would go a certain way but took a surprisingly different turn - really refreshing. The world building was wonderful, I could really imagine the Gray, the village and the castle clearly which kept me grounded in the story.

My only criticism is that this book shouldn't be labeled with anything "Beauty & the Beast" - very little is similar to the traditional tale or the Disney version so it's a little misleading, especially if you go into the story thinking you'll get a retelling.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the review copy. I got this on NetGalley the week it was released and just never picked it up but I’ve finally gotten around to reading it.

Wren has had a difficult life ensuring her sister’s survival in their home of Edgewood which is in eternal winter. To maintain the Shade, the North Wind comes to choose his new bride for her mortal blood. When he sets his sights on Wren’s sister, she’ll sacrifice anything to protect her.

This is a combination retelling of Beauty and the Beast & Hades and Persephone This one was on the slower side but I still enjoyed figuring things out with the main character. I found both MCs a little frustrating as they had terrible communication. I am a bit confused about how the next book could possibly follow the character that I believe it’s meant to be about but I guess we’ll see.

"I would do it all over again, give it all up, if only to spend another day in your company."

A bit of a slow burn in the beginning but by around 70% is when it really hits its stride. Fantasy with a heavy dollop of romance. Romantasy.

The main F character, Wren, is not always appealing but she grew on me. The North Wind, aka Boreas, is the standard dark, grumpy, standoffish character that you eventually love. Although a forced marriage, you wanted them to get together, to find each other. Together they are stronger and they need to be to fight the impending war.

I enjoyed this overall but just a tad slow in some parts in the beginning. I enjoyed the world building and will definitely read the next one in the series.

A solid enemies-to-lovers fantasy read! I loved the characters and the development of their relationship. The slow burn was a SLOW. BURN. so if you like that, this book is for you. The world-building was fascinating and I can't wait to find out more about the world in future books. I loved Zephyrus and I'm excited to read his book next!

I loved everything about this book, the characters the story the world building I cannot wait for the next one.

Actual rating is 3.5 stars

I can see what the author was trying to do and they almost get there, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. There was some really interesting worldbuilding in some parts and others got glossed over. Both main characters were deeply flawed which I actually liked and there is some serious relationship development but Wren had some really stupid decisions which I struggled with.

Not sure whether I will go back in for book 2...maybe after I have let this one settle for a while.

Overall this was a good enough read.
The haters-to-lovers vibe was written well for the most part.
However, the storyline was a little choppy and sometimes boring enough for me to stop reading for a few days. Particularly the ending.
I probably won’t bother reading future books in this series.