So beautifully written, captivating & enthralling. I have never been so enthralled by such a beautiful piece of work. I just loved it. Love love loved it.

A beautifully written novel with multi-dimensional characters, exploring bravery, confidence and the love of family and music.

I really enjoy the book and the cover to it. Thanks for letting me read it.

This book kept my interest through the whole thing. The story line is great. And i enjoyed the characters. I will recommend this book to patrons.

I stumbled back and forth on this one as to whether to give it a 4 or 5 star review. There are amazingly wonderful things in these pages, but there was one element that left me a little short. Since I read this in one sitting (and wasn't intending to), I'm hitting the 5-stars. Anything that can grab my undivided attention, and leave me reading long after bedtime, deserves it.

This story rubs elbows with several other tales: Der Earlkoenig (a German poem from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe), the Labyrinth, and Hades/Persephone. What I appreciated--and was not expecting--was the poetic, dark beauty in the writing. The descriptions are simply a treat. The author brings a cruel, lovely, sinister and alluring world to life through elegant depictions and writing. Not only the familiar human world comes to life, but the Underworld with all of its quirks and oddities gains clarity and lures in. In other words, it's not the lightest read.

The story has depth, not action. The pacing is steady and tense due to character depth, decisions, self-discovery and emotions. The main character, Liesl, does run into danger a few times, and although these do create angst, this is not the style which dominates the story. I believe this is a book readers will love or dislike, and much of that is based on whether the reader connects to Liesl or not. She is the center of the plot--how she comes to terms with the task, the world, the Goblin King and, mainly, herself. Everything rotates around her relationship/attitude to the Goblin King. So if she, as a character, falls flat for the reader, than the plot doesn't have much of a chance.

That's my biggest problem with this book as well. I did find Liesl intriguing and thoroughly enjoyed the masks and layers of the Goblin King. But there weren't as many layers to the plot. The first half of the book promises more intrigue as the Goblin King lays his trap. The side characters are present and have a stronger interaction in the tale, offering various possibilities and angles. The second half, however, switches to a concentration on Liesl and the Goblin King with only shadows of other players involved. Liesl has only one direction she can basically head toward, and this narrows the possibilities for surprising layers or unknown twists down, making the second half a little deeper and slower than the first.

I received this book as a Fantasy for young adults (YA), but it does not come across as a YA read. Not only is Liesl slightly over the border age wise, but her sights are set on goals more associated with new adults (NA). The topics, themes and her desires lean toward an older audience and don't fall into the main YA stream.

Summed up, this was a read which pulls into a creepily poetic, beautiful world. The Goblin King is as dark, layered and mysterious as promised, and his realm comes to life with all sorts of horrible creatures and details. It's eerie, alluring and tempting. Fans of fairy tale re-tellings, the Labyrinth and dark, mythological undertones should definitely pick this one up and dive in.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review. I have a hard time getting into this book. The first 10% reminds me of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas because it's basically saying beware of the monsters.. do something to prevent it from coming.. putting salt around the house.. go into the woods.. etc.. then 17% into the book and all that music talk and virtuoso talks, I thought maybe the book is a retelling of Phantom of the Opera.. and then that Goblin King being a neighbor.. I find myself skipping through the narration and only reading the conversations.. even that.. I still find it hard to continue. I have decided not to read it further because I don't want to write a bad review and blast it all over the internet. This book is just not my cup of tea. How can they afraid of the Goblin King and do all that to prevent every year when he's a neighbor that Liesl plays with the whole time.

This story about goblins and music and romance has a good foundation, but I find it to be overwritten. What began as an engaging tale became exhausting 2/3 of the way through. Review from e-galley.

Written with lyrical prose, Wintersong vividly renders a coming-of-age tale inspired by fairy tale and classical music while giving a sly nod to Labyrinth, this is an exquisitely told tale of a heroine's journey.

Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

“Once there was a little girl who played her music for a little boy in the wood. She was small and dark, he was tall and fair, and the two of them made a fancy pair as they danced together, dancing to the music the little girl heard in her head.”

WINTERSONG is the story of a young woman who goes Underground to rescue her sister, only to find herself instead. What makes this story so compelling is all the wonderful elements entwined into Wintersong. There are echoes of Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera and Mozart. Poetry and myth, and the movie Labyrinth. 

Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti comes to mind first with its ominous tones and themes of temptation and, of course, those sly goblins. When Liesl makes a bargain with the Goblin King to rescue her sister from his Underground lair, the atmosphere and tone reminded me of Hades and Persephone. There, the Goblin King is so much more than it first seems and his relationship with Liesl is slowly and sensually revealed.
Many readers are going to find the nod to the 80’s cult classic movie Labyrinth vastly appealing with its dark and enchanting Underground world created by S. Jae-Jones and a Goblin King that is equal parts alluring, mysterious and dangerous. He is the epitome the wounded anti-hero who needs healing through a heroine’s love. 

“You are a man with music in his soul. You are capricious, contrary, contradictory. You delight in childish games, and delight even more in winning. For a man of such intense piety, you are surprisingly petty. You are a gentleman, a virtuoso, a scholar, and a martyr, and of those masks, I like the martyr least of all. You are austere, you are pompous, you are pretentious, you are foolish.”
The Goblin King did not reply.
“Well?” I asked. “Do I have the right of it?”
“Yes,” he said thickly. “Yes, you have the very soul of me, Elisabeth.”

Liesl is all sorts of complicated and the emotions she brings to the story simply drew me in making my connection to her real and heartfelt. The unbreakable bond of sisters, her love and loyalty to family, and her musical nature made her journey to the Underground something much more than a trip to save her sister but rather an awakening.

“I am,” I said slowly, “a girl with music in her soul. I am a sister, a daughter, a friend, who fiercely protects those dear to her. I am a girl who loves strawberries, chocolate torte, songs in a minor key, moments stolen from chores, and childish games. I am short-tempered yet disciplined. I am self-indulgent, selfish, yet selfless. I am compassion and hatred and contradiction. I am … me.”

Haunting, romantic, lyrical, hopeful and cruel, Wintersong should appeal to fans of dark fantasy and fairy tales. Written with a lush and sensual voice, Wintersong is recommended to readers who enjoyed The Star-Touched Queen, Cruel Beauty, A Thousand Nights and Stolen Songbird. I can’t wait for more and I’m crossing my fingers for a companion novel.

Wintersong swept me into old world Bavaria, in a haunting tale of music, love, family and moral consequence. This book was brimming with passion and expectations, and I could feel Elisabeth's hopes and dreams floating off the page like the strangely discordant and beautiful melodies she and her Goblin King composed.

When I first finished this book I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about it. There were times I was frustrated with the characters and the choices they made, frustrated with how the story was shaping, but in the end I realised that there were even more times where I was completely engrossed in the world of the Underground, and the magic of the folklore, which is always a particular favourite of mine. So overall, I did enjoy this book, it's darkness and mystery, and I would recommend it to others - the magic of the Goblin King is one I will always love!

To tell you the truth, I found this book a little slow. There was a lot to do with music, which was very interesting, but it didn't seem to move the story along fast enough for my taste. With that being said, I thought the story was excellent. The author came up with a unique story that captured me. It painted a picture of the goblin world, but yet I still found myself wanting more.

The love story was intriguing, but at times I felt like it came out of the blue and then hid away again.

The ending left me sad. I wanted more. I wanted the characters to finally find peace, but the story ended with me having lots of questions and no way to answer them.

I still gave the book three stars because it was very well written and the story line was well constructed. I would recommend this read to anyone who loves fantasy and fairytale style stories

I have mixed feelings about this book. I like the story line as a whole, but it feels forced and is too verbose for my taste. I got lost in trying to figure out musical terms and in trying to understand some of the language used throughout. A beautiful story is hidden in the writing, almost as if it's underground with the Goblin King. I didn't dislike it, but I found myself in the labyrinth of prose.

I think I'm going to call this a New Adult Fairytale. In the tradition of all proper fairytales it's dark, full of monsters and yet still somehow romantic. In the tradition of good New Adult books it's dark, features at least one alpha-arsehole, a whole lot of strife and a true love story.
Jae-Jones has created a world that is full of music and magic, and the two go hand-in-hand perfectly. More than that, they intertwine and become something special. Comparisons to the film Labyrinth have been made, and sure, the Goblin King, the stolen sibling, it does have parallels, but it's a much more grown up version, with classical music instead of cheesy Bowie songs, and much scarier goblins than Jim Henson's creations.
Wintersong is at once dazzling, dreamlike, sad, haunting, romantic and beautiful. I don't often give fairytales a chance, but I'm glad I picked this one up.

Liesl is the plain sister, the practical one. She works hard and takes care of her family. Her younger sister Kathe is prettier, more flamboyant, fond of dancing and pretty things and is highly sought after by boys. The two are opposites, but when Kathe is lured away by the Goblin King, Liesl is determined to rescue her. To do so she must enter the frightening land of goblins where she learns that the price for saving her sister is steep – a marriage to the Goblin King himself. As she spends time in the underground realm, Liesl learns there’s more to the Lord of Mischief than the stories of lore suggest. But the big question is whether she’s willing to die to be his wife. Jae-Jones has created a lyrical but dark world of goblins. Her imagery is luscious and rich. This re-telling of the movie Labyrinth has the moodiness and musicality of the film plus a Lord of Mischief (Goblin King) who’s alluring. The book starts strong but fails to maintain the momentum throughout. Still, an enjoyable tale that is rich in imagery.

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

wintersong (S. Jae-Jones)

Title: wintersong

Author: S. Jae-Jones

Publisher: St. Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne Books

Publication Date: February 7, 2017 (Hardcover/E-Book)

ISBN: 9781250079213

Source: NetGalley

Upon reading the synopsis and the author blurbs, I thought this novel would float me boat. But I just could not finish it and had to abandon ship at 31%. Why ye ask? Well for a myriad of reasons:

I kept comparing it to the bear and the nightingale which I loved. This book kept coming up short. While this is not the author's fault, I just fpund this one similar but lacking.
I could not connect to the main character, Liesl. She continued to make bad choices throughout the part I read, even when forewarned. I like me heroines to be intelligent and to learn from their mistakes. Liesl seemed to jump feet first into everything without thinking about any consequences. She also seemed to be a rather selfish character who whined about how woeful her life was.
The contest between Liesl and the Goblin King was so odd. Part one was over before it really began and part two was predictable and rather annoying. I didn't stick around for part three.
This book deals with music. A lot. I have no musical ability whatsoever and so these parts went over me head or were just kinda boring. Liesl spend pretty much the whole portion of what I read lamenting that girls cannot be composers in the turn of the 19th century. This may be a selling point for someone else but not me.
I didn't like the Goblin King or the goblin world at all. For some reason, I thought that the Goblin King and goblins would prove to be different then the usual versions in this retelling. I was wrong.
I really didn't understand why Liesel had anything to do with the Goblin King as a child and why she ever found him fascinating or called him a friend.
The pacing was slow. I was not engaged in the story and just wanted something interesting to happen.

With so many books on the horizon, I just gave up. I want me reading to make time seem to disappear, not to accentuate every second passing. I am sad, but I couldn't fight the tide.

If ye want to read another take on this novel of a crew member that loved it check out this review from Lola @ Hit or Miss Books.

So lastly . . .

Thank you St. Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne Books!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.

But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

To visit the author’s website go to:

S. Jae-Jones - Author

To buy the novel go to:

wintersong - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

I loved this book. Terrific visuals,wonderful character development,exquisite la Guage. I cared deeply about the characters and the plot was intriguing. Definitely did not expect the sexual tensions, but we'll done.

Wintersong
Dark and seductive. Beautiful and magical. I could go on and on but I fear words don't show how gorgeous the story truly was. The writing...my god, it was was everything and more. This is going to be one of those reviews that absolutely won't do Wintersong justice. It just won't. It's the type of book that you have to read an experience yourself. The world building, the characters, the story; all of it has come and brought the story to life.

Liesl is the one that's always been in the shadows to her siblings. The untalented one - the one who is plain and not very beautiful, if at all. The day her sister gets taken from our world to the underground world with the goblins, is the day that Liesl finds out what it truly means to sacrifice. The Goblin King is beautiful, mischievous, and has his eyes set on Liesl. But no matter which way she turns, she'll have to sacrifice what she holds dear to her heart.

Personally, I had no idea what I was getting into when the book was brought to my attention. I'll admit, I saw a pretty cover and instantly wanted to read it. Upon the first few pages, I wasn't yet sold. It took me a few chapters to truly get in the book. But once I passed that hump, I didn't want to stop. Wintersong is truly seductive and even more sexy. I, myself wanted to go and get lost in the underground with Mr. Goblin King. He's dark, mysterious and shows us his vulnerability at times. I liked that.

I wish I could properly tell her f**ckin' good this book was because I know for a fact I'm not doing a good job. But seriously, this book is so good! Don't let it pass you by and be prepared to fall madly in love. I've read that there's a companion novel coming out - obviously, I can't read to read it! (Is it too soon to demand the book now?)

<b>This is a beautifully written book</b> - the prose is eloquent with an almost classical sense to it and the world is exquisite without being too heavy in detail. While I was reading it I felt as though I were under Der Erlkönig's thrall myself. <b>It is compelling, dark and sensual; a riveting read full of poetry and a truly incredible atmosphere</b>.

There's a wonderful sense of values here and I enjoyed the fact the Liesl was not conventionally beautiful however she is brave, clever and a wonderful composer. There are plenty of faults to be found in our main character, but above all I felt that just made her more accessible. There's envy, bitterness, selfishness and selflessness. At the end of the day, for me, there was nothing that Liesl would not do for the love of her family and I find that incredibly courageous.

It's a journey of self discovery for so many of the characters. We get to know Käthe, Josef and Der Erlkönig through Liesl's POV and I was entranced for almost all of the story.

The romance was bittersweet with all the nuances of complex emotions and although somewhat foreign and odd, it was spellbinding all the same.

I'm not sure how I feel about the ending but I've heard rumours of a companion novel coming next so that is definitely something to look forward to.

<b>This book is eerie and ethereal, poignant and strange and geared toward a sophisticated audience</b>. If you get the opportunity to read this one, definitely take it. I can't wait to hear what you think.

<blockquote><b><i>“That one...burns like kindling. All flash, and no real heat. But you,” he said. “You smolder, mistress. There is a fire burning within you, but it is a slow burn. It shimmers with heat, waiting only for a breath to fan it to life. Most curious.” A slow grin spread over his mouth. “Most curious, indeed.”</i></b></blockquote>

I loved the writing of this novel, it was beautiful and completely captivating. Not a book to be missed.

I am lost.

WINTERSONG is magical, with a fairy tale atmosphere that is heightened by the lovely, lyrical writing. Though there are echoes of Labyrinth (my favorite childhood movie!), the author took it beyond that to create a story and characters that are unforgettable and that will live in you long after you have finished reading the book. I can say definitely that WINTERSONG is a book that will go on my keeper shelf and that I will reread over and over until I have wrung the last bit of magic from it.

Told from the first person of view, Liesl or Elisabeth makes an engaging, self-aware narrator, and from her narration, we see how she grows from girl to woman, not just in terms of physical, but also in her emotional and mental maturity, in the self-actualization that she attains at the end. Her realization that she is "Elisabeth, entire". The author takes us on this strange, wondrous, compelling journey, and while more astute readers may guess there's only one outcome to this story, yet the journey to that end is filled with growth and realizations that both characters (Elisabeth and the Goblin King) would not have attained without these experiences.

The Goblin King (swoon swoon swoon) has so much potential, and it's too bad we can only see him through Elisabeth's eyes. And what we eventually come to know about his past is heartbreaking. The romance is dark and mysterious and sexy, and it is to the author's credit that she got me so invested in the characters that the poignant, bittersweet ending (not a spoiler) affected me a lot. (And I want more!)

Right now, I'm wishing for a sequel, though I'm not sure if a sequel would do this story justice. Maybe it's better to leave this as it is. But if ever--if ever--there's a sequel, you can bet I'll be first one to get it. Highly recommended!