First, a big thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of Alexandria Warwick’s novel “West Wind" – “From the author of The North Wind comes a darkly reimagined tale of forbidden love, inspired by the Greek myth of hero and Leander and the Scottish ballad Tam Lin.”

I have been looking forward to this book since I read The North Wind and I was excited to give it a go. The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick is a dark and enchanting tale that transports readers to the world of the Under where our main character Brielle of Thornbrook risks everything to save a god, Zephyrus, the West Wind, Bringer of Spring.

After reading The North Wind, I was eager to learn more about Zephyrus' story and if there was any hope for his redemption - I love a solid redemption arc. I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns that kept the plot moving. I felt the author did a wonderful job weaving together elements of fantasy, adventure, and several moments of romance. Warwick's lyrical prose and vivid descriptions of the Under bring the setting to life, making it easy to get lost in the story.

Each character is well developed and had a unique voice. I did find myself struggling with Brielle's character a bit at times. She has dedicated her life to the abbey and her faith, yet her heart is being pulled towards Zephyrus, leading her to question all she's known. So many times throughout the story, Brielle reminded me of the type of friend who keeps returning to the guy who can't be trusted. She continues to risk everything for him and do everything for him, knowing his past and present proves he's wrong for her. That doesn't usually work out well for women in the real world. But that is who Brielle is for everyone at the abbey as well. She gives and gives. And yet they have also mistreated her over the years. This is definitely one of those things that annoyed me a bit about this story and felt it could have been done slightly differently.

With that being said, the protagonist's journey in The West Wind is thrilling, emotionally resonant, and transformative, keeping me engaged from start to finish with only very few moments where it feels a little slow. Warwick keeps Brielle's heart kind while transforming her into a formidable woman who is capable of standing independently and making her choices. Which I absolutely adore.
This book does have several references to The North Wind, and can be read as a stand-alone. Warwick also introduces the third brother, Notus, the South Wind.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's about growth, sacrifice for others, having faith in something greater than yourself while not losing yourself, and understanding that you are not the sum of your past. I definitely appreciate this story and am so happy to have gotten the chance to read it.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to SAGA press and NetGalley for this ARC. When I cracked open The West Wind, I was NOT in the mood to continue this series. The first book? In a word: Painful. But then came this little redemption arc of Zephyrus, and let me tell you—it pleasantly surprised me. Zephyrus, our delightful hot mess of a wind god, had "giant redemption arc" written all over him from the start. Out of his brothers, he’s the classic screw-up, and I was a little interested in how Warwick was going to save him, considering he was The Worst!

Warwick, being Warwick, stayed true to her vibe of weaving old myths into her stories. This time, she utilized the heartbreak of Hero and Leander, sprinkled with a touch of Tam Lin. And then, we meet Brielle. Ah, sweet, faith-holding Brielle! She was as refreshing pure hearted character, that did not throw judgements in people's faces and held her faith close. What's even better is she had also had an arc into a badass!

Now, don’t get me wrong—there were moments I wanted to scream, “Girl, get a backbone!” because there's nothing I hate more than a spineless character. But just like Zephyrus, our girl evolved, and by the end, she was shining.

Did the story drag a little? Sure. But compared to the first book, this one was a breeze. Pro tip: You can totally read these as standalones, so maybe skip The North Wind and head straight here.

Final thoughts? Zephyrus and Brielle earn a solid 3 stars.

This was an incredible fantasy read!! I loved the continuation of the series and being back in the world

Initial thoughts having just finished this book - wow, that was some tidy ending. I almost didn't expect things to end so neatly. I really expected the West Wind as a man to have the least satisfying ending given what a despicable person he is throughout books 1 and 2. I think she went on a tangent in a very OUABH way with the ending and I wish it had been executed differently but ended with the same epilogue..

The journey is windy, unsettling, familiar, wound opening for me. Let's break this book down to give you readers an idea of what to expect and see if you'll enjoy the ride as much as I did.

Alexandra writes stories based strongly on Ancient Greek Mythology. There will be direct parallels and sometimes divergences from the ancient stories but more or less these are retellings in a romantic(ish) fantasy setting. In this particular book, the romance is the subplot. if you are looking for the romantic subplot I will summarize below under the [SPOILER] section. The primary plot and story is Brielle finding her true calling is the main plot and finding love along the way is the secondary plot. That’s the summary of the book as it’s told.

The first part of the book Brielle challenges herself to find out why she is always passed up to ascend to acolyte. Rather than ask Mother Mabel she allows this dude she finds in the woods one breaths away from death to take her to Under while he takes care of an errand. While there she encounters things that challenge the very essence of everything she lived and believed in. Thus we segue into the challenges of the book.

Alexandra is going to challenge you, the reader on a few different fronts:
- Challenges inflexibility with respect to Brielle and her spectrum coded behaviors and thoughts
-- Under is the rule less place to challenge Brielle and her regulated, rule based life.
- Challenges faith and faith based thinking with the Brielle/Harper relationship, and Mother Mabel
- Challenges boundaries in that Brielle has her own way of expressing her boundaries that rubs against the West Wind's need for clarity
- Challenges insularity/faith based ignorance via the whole Abbey/cloister and Brielle's ignorance to the outside world/thoughts/history

If you're from a Catholic, Mormon, JW or similar background there may be some somatic responses to reading parts I+II. I know for me there were. Alexandra places a big focus on her character's somatic response aka their body's reaction to emotion. Her description of Harper or perhaps a metaphor for Harpies, was interesting. Very rarely have I related to but also disliked a character so much. Harper's role as Brielle's devil's advocate was clever but done so well that man I just wanted to rip out every page with her name and shred them. Moving onto the romantic subplot as the main plot below

[SPOILERS] But the book with the romance as the primary plot is such:
Thornbrook has had a contract with Under where they paid a blood tithe to the Orchid King because he was using the Under’s power. West wind and Brielle work together to undo that in order to find peace for all of Caterhaugh and for themselves.
Also can we talk about how Alexandra murders us with the last chapter and then revives us with the epilogue. 💀😮[SPOILER END]

Overall yes I would recommend this but with trauma wound trigger warnings. This book REALLY dives into some therapy topics and it's not for everyone. Brielle is also strongly autism spectrum coded will bother a lot you and make you realize just how many of us are in plain sight. West Wind is also painfully similar to Jacks but perhaps even worse and if you've gone through the emotional horror story that is the OUBH trilogy then get ready to read it ALL OVER AGAIN even with APOLLO but in one short 400 page book. I mean there is so much going against this book and yet here I am 2 days later, panting, and telling you to be prepared. There was also the adorable Lissi, the raspberry tarts, the rose orb, the oasis. So many sweet memories from this book. It's so sweet once you embrace the vulnerability

3⭐/ 2.5🌶️

After Zephyrus got his butt kicked at the end of The North Wind, I was very excited to see what happened to him and learn a bit more of his story and motivations.

As much as I enjoyed book one, this one was not as enjoyable for me. I can fully admit that this was definitely a "It was me, not you" situation though. I had a hard time relating to or empathizing with Brielle's character because of her meekness and blind religious following. However, I can appreciate her growth by the end and turning toward a path that was more in line with her beliefs as she experienced new things and knowledge.

The overall story was good. The Mother Mabel was a great 2nd villain in her twisted view on protection and revenge. Zephyrus's back story coming to light was nice and his change and growth despite the "gods don't change" mentality was fun to watch.

One issue that I had (once again this is a "it's me, not you" thing) was the constant piousness toward the Father and the vows. I'm not a religious person and for the first 50% of the book I was wondering if I tumbled into an alt-Christian story which was a completely different vibe from the first book.

It was a good read, but not one I'm going to be thinking about for months to come.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley but this review reflects my honest opinion.

I generally give 2 stars minimum for a book I didn't abandon mid-page, more if it's well- written. The descriptions are excellent and I also appreciated that the main character isn't the waif most romantasy authors tend to write. This book actually has 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

But story wise, I hated this book. Men are given redemption for the worst of sins because they feel bad, and women are (as usual) held to impossible standards. I know people like their morally gray heroes but I felt as if every chapter had me hating the main character more. There was no redemption arc because he's a man and they get forgiven when they show up with flowers. Ugh- people bash CoHo but this book basically says you're the problem if you can't let past abuse go once the abuser says "my bad."

I also found this book much too slow and repetitive. It took me way too long to finish it. I don't mind a slow trek through the underworld but if you're not invested in the characters and don't care if they make it, the stakes are too low for the effort. And too much of the book felt like the same thing was happening over and over, just with a different character.

All in all, I'll try another book by this author but if it's more of this apologizing for bad men, I'll move on to authors who demand better.

I was so excited to get this arc after loving the first book by this author! The only criticism I would have is the slow storyline. I loved that there was a quest and we are able to see the character development. I wish there was more tension between the two main characters to make it be more thrilling once they did get together.

Being raised in the abbey and told the world only works in one manner, this is the absolute truth, Brielle accepts it for what it is a face value. Continuing her studies to become an acolyte, fashioning weapons to help protect the village. Until she knows that she cannot let a man go uninjured, and seeks to help him. Helping him sends her down a rabbit hole of sorts, and he shows her Under, and asks her to keep an open mind and open eyes.

Can her blind faith in the lessons she's learned since she was eleven prepare her for what she's about to see? Or should she trust her heart and her gut about the man who is leading her through Under?

The suspense and intense world of this book was really great. It doesn't hold up to book 1 in my opinion but I'm excited for book 3 all the same

I have such high hopes for the rest of this series! I love how different this book feels from the first one. I fell in love with The North Wind and knew I needed this one right away! Alexandria Warwick is taking us on an adventure like know other. I love the concepts, the characters, and when the spice hits, it hits!

Enjoyed this follow up to the north wind. Really different than the first book in the series. I did struggle with the religion aspect of the book. Could see the Greek influence on the writer . Am interested to see what happens in book 3

I absolutely adore this series!! Alexandria writes the best slow burns 🔥 Like, *actual* slow burns - 80%+ before you get spice.
This was super different from the first book (not in a bad way), but don’t go into it thinking you’re getting the same plot with different characters.

“𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙡𝙮. “𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚?”

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Zephyrus considering his actions in The North Wind - iykyk. But I love himmm idc.

"𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨," 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙨, 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙧. "𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜."

Brielle had way more of a backbone than I thought she would! The way she stood her ground with Zephy and sent him packing 😮‍💨😂 (I’m an idiot and would’ve let him stay lmao) and stood up to her bully. I enjoyed seeing her question her beliefs and ultimately break free from her oppressing (imo) religion.

“𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙕𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙧𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮.”

The epilogue was so sweet and added the perfect finishing touch to their story!
Looking forward to reading about the other 2 brothers.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲:
💨 Greek Mythology Retelling
✨ Slow Burn
💨 Forbidden Love
✨ Plus-Size FMC
💨 Morally Ambiguous Hero

Thank you to NetGalley and #SagaPress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Great read! This was my first read from this author so now I need to go back and read the other books. This plot of this book was fantastic and the characters were very well thought out.

Before reading The West Wind, I was a little hesitant because I didn’t love The North Wind. I was worried that I would have the same complaints as the first book. However, I thoroughly enjoyed The West Wind! I loved Zephyrus’ redemption arc and character growth. I have such a soft spot for him now and I fell a little in love with him. Brielle is definitely a different type of FMC that you don’t see often anymore. She’s soft, kind, and endlessly full of grace. I’m not religious at all, but the religious aspect didn’t bother me. I think the author did a great job depicting a truly devout person who actually upholds the mercy and love that is the whole supposed point of religion. My only complaint about this book is that the plot moved a bit slower than I prefer, however I think this is my favorite of The Four Winds so far!

Thank you to Saga Press, NetGalley, and the author for an early copy!

Okay so I loved Zephyrus in book one so much, I thought the first book was done beautifully. Unfortunately, this book seemed like an entirely different book and characters with how different Zephyrus presented. Every piece about this book was very different from the first, so this was a huge adjustment for me. Overall, the author’s world development is fantastic. If I wasn’t so in my head about how different the two books are, this is a great book.

I really enjoyed this book. I only feel like I was missing out because I didn't realize it was a part of a series. I plan to go back and read the rest of the series to see how different it will make me feel about this book. Overall, on its own, it was well written, and the characters relatable. I think the plot line of the book was well planned as well. The author did a great job with their writing style to make you not want to put it down. I can't wait to read more from this author. I recommend this one, but I also recommend reading the rest of the series so you don't miss out on some points in the book.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Saga Press

Brielle lives a quiet life as a noviate at the Abbey of Thornbrook, tending the land and forging weapons for the abbey. Until one day, she finds a man in the woods and hides him to help him...and an adventure begins which will bring her out of the quiet life she has always lived.

In both the North Wind and the West Wind, Warwick does such a wonderful job of painting a landscape and scene. In the first book, it was a the dark ice of the North and this one gave such a desolate sense of a small village and all the empty land around it. While context clues indicate this might be a land similar to Scotland, I had such a sense of the Yorkshire moors and the empty land around it, so easy to get lost in.

Readers of the last book might remember Zephyrus as a character with a need for a lot of growth and redemption, and I believe Brielle was a good match for him. Only a FMC with a strong sense of faith and the ability to change and do better would worked so well, and I really appreciate that Warwick had such a strong sense of Brielle's faith. Even when she doubts the best path for herself, she maintains a faith in humanity and a kindness that I thought was sensitively portrayed.

My one disappointment was the relationship Brielle had with the other noviates. As Wren did in the first book, she has a complicated relationship with her sisters by choice (rather than by birth) and I would love to see future characters have a different, perhaps more supportive relationship, to the women in their lives.

I am excited to read the books about the next two winds - Norus's brief cameo as the South Wind has made me very excited to see what is next for him in the South Wind, and I will be sure to purchase a copy!

2.5 stars rounded up

This book can be read as a stand alone in the interconnected series that is the Four Winds.

I have read the first book and thoroughly enjoyed it. This book however, I find myself questioning why I didn't just walk away.

For one thing, the book is divided into three "parts" but the first part of the book is nearly half the book. The first part is the longest and the most tedious and could have been edited down significantly. It was not fast paced enough to make me ever want to read this. I think I also struggled with the themes of the religious acolyte as our FMC. I do understand the novel is about her growth and how she comes to question her faith and everything that she's thought she's known but she is so steadfast in her ways in the beginning I found her completely intolerable. I also do not understand how they set up the dynamic between her and the West Wind. Their romance felt forced.

The second part of the book was the most interesting, and then I lost the plot on the third part because I absolutely disagreed with the way the author attempted to achieve a happy ending. I will need to see what old tale the third book is based off before I decide if I want to continue the series, but I'm pretty sure I'll end up picking it up. But if this book has taught me anything, if I'm struggling at all to read it I'm going to quit it and not force myself to power through.

I wanted to love this book. I LOVED The North Wind, so I was so excited to read this book. Unfortunately, due to how much religion (not overtly Christian but very much Christian-like) there was in this, I had to DNF at 53%. I have too much religious trauma to continue with this book. It was a “me” issue for sure, so don’t let that put you off.

I loved Zephyrus in book one, so I was eager to read his story. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem like the Zephyrus in book one at all. He has traumatic things happen to him, but his personality seemed so different. I also did not care for the FMC, Brielle. I think it was because she seemed too indoctrinated in the faith.

I knew going in that this would read like a standalone, but I didn’t expect it to be so different from the first book in the series, both in tone and in character development.

What I will say, is that I love the author’s writing style and world development. Those are both excellent, and I would give the next book in the series a chance, though, I’ll be sure to read the synopsis more carefully.

Even though I DNF-ed this, I still gave this book 3 stars based on writing style and the simple fact that it was my own issues that interfered with finishing this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the gifted copy to review.

I absolutely loved The North Wing and Zephyrus was a bad boy in it so I was excited to read The West Wind! This was based off of Greek myth Hero and Leander and the Scottish Ballad Tam Lin and I admit I had to look both of these up before starting the book!
Brielle has decided to dedicate her life to the abbey. Enter Zephyrus lying injured and unconscious in the forest. When she decides to help him she does not realize how both of their lives are about to change! I loved this journey with both characters finding themselves along the way...and maybe love?!?!
Thank you SagaPress for the book to read and review.