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Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole (Review #165)

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS FAR IN THE ARCANA CHRONICLES, STOP NOW. DO NOT READ. THIS IS BOOK 3. FOR THE REVIEW ON BOOK 1, CHECK OUT POISON PRINCESS. FOR THE REVIEW ON BOOK 2, CHECK OUT ENDLESS KNIGHT.

“Heartbreaking decisions

Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.

Uncertain victory

Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

Two heroes returned

There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first...?"

Review:
Ah, it’s so nice to revisit old friends! I haven’t been in the Arcana Chronicles Universe in such a long time and I’m so glad to be back!

I was a bit worried I wouldn’t remember what happened in the last two books, but thankfully I remembered the important bits and was reminded of anything I needed to know along the way. Evie still continues to be the baddest bitch and you can’t help but want her to succeed. I love that we are slowly meeting all the Arcana, almost creating a team you might say. And though the game would have them all out for themselves, alliances have been struck and we love to see it.

The Lovers are our enemies in this installment, a incestuous couple of twins who delight in torture as their form of “love”. They have a score to settle with the Empress and they’ll take her lover and her friend as payment. Evie goes on not one, but two daring rescues in this one with help from quite a few arcana. The battles were glorious to say the least, but the biggest battle of the book was the one for Evie’s heart (aw). At the end of Endless Knight, Aric (aka Death) tried his very best to coerce Evie into having sex with him, but homegirl ain’t ABOUT it and managed to escape. Eager to find Jack, but torn between the feelings that had grown for Aric in the 3 months he held her captive, Evie was quite unsure.

I however, was more than positive that Death had to die. Stockholm syndrome wasn’t for me!!! Jack had kept secrets and lied to Evie quite a few times in their relationship, but to me he could learn from those mistakes and they could grow together. Jack had grown a lot in their time apart too which made me all the more confident that he’d be able to keep up with the Empress. 

But throughout Dead of Winter (which by the way the winter didn’t even hit til the very end, so huh?), Death grew on me. He wanted the Empress to unleash herself, to stop holding herself back in fear and become her true self. I loved that, and despite his rivalry with Jack, Aric proved time and time again that if Evie cared for Jack then he would keep him safe for her. And Jack just COULDN’T keep a damn promise to save his life, but he was ride or die. He was ready to build a future with her and make this world anew with her. 

It was really hard, because I was torn along with Evie. And in the end, I’m not even sure if I agree with who she chose. The ending as a whole was a great way to end this installment though; we knew the Emperor was on the way, but his entrance was nothing short of an earth-shaker. I can’t wait to read what happens next, and I’m so glad to be back in it. 

As always, let me know your own thoughts and feels down below in the comments!



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