Veena’s review of The Winter King by C.L. Wilson
Epic Fantasy Romance published by Avon 29 Jul 14
I was very pleased to get my hands on this long-awaited book from Ms. Wilson and even more pleased to discover that she hasn’t lost her touch. The story takes off with a bang as Wynter, King of Winter Craig, is betrayed and ingests the power of the ice heart in order to fuel his revenge. Shortly after, he marches through the gates of Summerlea’s capital as a conquering hero, determined to gain back the wife and heir that he lost at the hands of the summer prince. Summerlea’s king, however, manages to turn the tables on him by substituting his half-wild hated daughter instead the of the beautiful beloved daughter whom Wynter requests. Their marriage might have been forged in deceit, but there’s no stopping the stormy passion that flares between them and warms not just Wynter’s icy heart but also raises readers’ temperatures.
Khamsin is as wild and passionate as the storms she wields and so full of guilt for being the instrument that killed her mother when one of her storms uprooted trees in the garden, crushing her mother beneath it. This earned her the undying hatred of her father at the tender age of two and got her relegated to the shadows of her father’s palace under the tender ministrations of her nurse. In much the same way she refuses to be defeated by her father’s hate, she screams her defiance at the conqueror standing at her city gate with the full force of a storm conjured by her stormy, passionate nature. Imagine her surprise when for the first time she meets an icy front that stills her storm. Is this a harbinger of the future relationship these two are fated to share?
Wynter has been frozen with the power of the ice heart and struggles to keep control of his humanity long enough to leave his country safe and protected from his enemies. Khamsin’s passionate nature inspires the warmth of a lust that he’s never experienced before. Despite all the warnings from his faithful retainers, he’s unable to resist her in the darkness of the night, though he definitely leaves her on her own devices to sink or swim amongst his icy courtiers during the daylight hours.
The world building in the story is superb. The contrast between the summer kingdom and the winter kingdom and the islanders, when they’re thrown into the mix with their personalities and clothing and language matching their habitats, is stunningly wrought. The descriptions of the Frost Giants and the mutated wolf like evil creatures that hunt humans and animals and conscript them into an icy army of the undead reminds me of something out of the current season of Game of Thrones. I like the way love and heart battle with the blind desire for power seeking to create the right balance.
My only regret is the length of time it’s taken to get this story into the hands of the readers. I admit that I am already salivating at the thought of more stories set in Mystral while I wish the author also to deliver on the much-promised and long-awaited stories about some of my favorite characters from the Tairen Soul series.
Grade: A
Summary:
After three long years of war, starkly handsome Wynter Atrialan will have his vengeance on Summerlea’s king by taking one of the man’s beautiful, beloved daughters as his bride. But though peace is finally at hand, Wynter’s battle with the Ice Heart, the dread power he embraced to avenge his brother’s death, rages on.
Khamsin Coruscate, Princess of Summerlea and summoner of Storms, has spent her life exiled to the shadows of her father’s palace. Reviled by her father, marriage to Wintercraig’s icy king was supposed to be a terrible punishment, but instead offers Kham her first taste of freedom—and her first taste of overwhelming passion.
As fierce, indomitable Wynter weathers even Khamsin’s wildest storms, surprising her with a tenderness she never expected, Kham wants more than Wynter’s passion—she yearns for his love. But the power of the Ice Heart is growing, dangerous forces are gathering, and a devastating betrayal puts Khamsin and Wynter to the ultimate test.
Read an excerpt.
