Reviews

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos

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brennabast's review against another edition

3.5

3.5

Feels like a Dramione coded young adult fairy tale. All the characters are pretty surface level but I had a good time.

justineyouth's review against another edition

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4.0

J’ai beaucoup aimé ce livre, l’intrigue paraît simple mais en faite elle est beaucoup plus compliqué qu’elle ne paraît. Les personnages sont attachants, l’histoire n’est pas cliché et il y a beaucoup de rebondissement ! J’aime aussi beaucoup l’univers que l’auteure a construit mais je n’aime pas la comparaison avec J.K Rowling, elle a construit son propre univers et ses personnages n’ont rien à voir.
J’aurais aimé un peu plus de rapprochement entre Ophélie et Thorn mais c’est seulement mon avis. J’aime beaucoup Ophélie car c’est un personnage qui paraît faible mais elle est forte et indépendante ! Thorn paraît froid et sans coeur mais on devine qu’il cache des choses, hâte de lire la suite !

teresa_romann's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5

otaryseal's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

greatfairycari's review against another edition

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3.0

2.5

abookishblonde's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A unique and immersive fantasy set in a world that feels both familiar and completely foreign. In this universe, God shattered the world into floating arks, each with its own customs, magic, and ruling spirits. Ophelia, a quiet and unassuming young woman with the ability to read the history of objects by touch and travel through mirrors, is sent to the distant Pole for an arranged marriage to Thorn, the ark’s treasurer.

From the start, Ophelia feels out of place and unimportant, especially among those with far more powerful abilities. The Pole is a cold and dangerous world, full of deception, hidden agendas, and political intrigue, and Ophelia quickly learns that no one is as they seem. She’s caught in a web of manipulation, where even those she trusts might betray her, but she also finds unexpected allies along the way.

I flew through this book in just a couple of sittings. It has an Alice in Wonderland vibe—a world that mirrors our own but is distorted by illusions and secrecy. The writing is rich and atmospheric, and Christelle Dabos does a fantastic job of bringing the setting and characters to life.

Why not 5 stars? While the world-building was incredible, the pacing dragged at times, and Ophelia, though compelling, often felt frustratingly passive. That being said, I’m excited to see how she grows in the next books, and I hope we see more of the side characters and Ophelia’s family as the series continues!

⭐ 4 stars!

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