Book Review: The Queen in Winter

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

The Queen in Winter     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Claire Delacroix , Lynn Kurland , Sharon Shinn , Sarah Monette
Class/Genre:   Romance   Fantasy   [Short Stories]

These four stories are about women, love, winter and magic - all fantasy and all different. The women range from fairy princess to warrior woman; the snow and ice from background to participant.

In "Whisper of Spring", the lands of Fairy and Humans are close but eternally separate. A beautiful elf princess is kidnapped and forced into exile on the human side of the border, and a very down-to-earth wizard king is asked to rescue her.

"When Winter Comes" is set in a country in which magic is very different - and it very dangerous to be a 'mystic', born with magic. Capable Sosie sets out on a hazardous trip in search of uncertain safety for her sister and newborn mystic nephew

"The Kiss of the Snow Queen", with its echoes of Northern European folktales, left me a bit ambivalent. The contrast between the two main characters was amusing and very well done, but I think I am too familiar with Christian traditions to be comfortable with them modified for a fantasy story. I keep getting jerked out of the story when I hit something - multiple gods, angels with real and not symbolic wings - that just does not fit. Nevertheless, the story is entertaining.

In "A Gift of Wings", the cold of winter reflects the estrangement between a crippled wizard and his bodyguard and former lover. The couple is finally shaken loose from their misunderstanding by a false accusation.

These are a well-written and entertaining group of stories which demonstrate how much originality and novelty can result when different authors all take on the same basic ideas of women, love, winter and magic in a fantasy setting.

Cheryl - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM