Sandy M’s review of The Winter King by C.L. Wilson
Fantasy Romance published by Avon 29 Jul 14

Waiting for this book has been worth all the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months it’s taken to get it on the shelves. C.L. Wilson is a master at drawing out the reader’s every emotion under the sun, writing characters in whose lives you become ensconced from the beginning, and a story and world where danger lurks, the unexpected happens, and happily ever after is hard won, but it’s worth the fight.

Khamsin is the youngest daughter of the Summerlea king. She’s been in exile since her mother’s death, which her father blames her for. Happiest when she’s with her siblings or among her mother’s things, Kham’s life changes the day the Wynter Atrialan, King of Wintercraig, declares triumph in the three-year war he’s waged on her people after Falcon, her brother, betrayed Wynter when, in fact, he should have been negotiating peace with the man.

Their union doesn’t begin on the best foot, but Wynter is taken with Kham since he first saw her, nearly taking her out with that deadly gaze of his, due to the Ice Heart that has nearly consumed his soul. She intrigues him, stands up to him, throws her storms at him, and her vulnerability, when it shows, pulls at his heart. Warned by those close to him not to trust the Summerlass, he can’t ignore or release the pull of Khamsin, despite the fact he thinks she could be in cahoots with her traitorous brother, who is still looking for the ancient sword of the Summerlea people.

Kham is enjoying her new life, especially her new husband. Having not had such contact, emotional as well as physical, her entire life, she does make mistakes, which coupled with their own hidden secrets leaves them shrouded in doubt and suspicions in between the times neither of them thought they’d ever have. Working their way through their own issues is only the tip of the iceberg for them, though; outside conflicts intrude at every turn. Khamsin’s growth throughout the story is wonderfully done, even the reader having doubts where her loyalties lie. But when all truths are revealed and Kham learns her husband’s deepest memories, regrets, and wishes, she does everything in her power to protect all she’s come to love in such a short time.

The secondary characters have just as much depth as the main characters. There’s plenty of political maneuvering going on, and Ms. Wilson does an excellent job keeping everything and everyone in line so the reader is never lost. The action scenes are quite compelling due to Khamsin’s ability to control – or not control when her emotions are rampaging – the weather, and the final battle scenes are of epic proportions. But will Kham finally dig deep enough to engage her power to save Wintercraig from the Winter King? Can she melt the Ice Heart that has such a hold on Wynter? And will Wynter be able to let go of the past to embrace his future?

There’s so much that happens in between all of this, and there’s not a review that will be written, this one included, that will do this book justice. When you finally have a copy in hand, curl up in your favorite reading spot and expect to stay put for quite some time, because I can guarantee you won’t want to stop reading for hardly anything at all, including sleep, until you’re turning that very last page.

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 is 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.