Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review and enter the giveaway below...
Winter's Dawn
(The Nordic Wars #3)
By Morgan L. Busse
Christian Fantasy, Norse & Viking Mythology
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 320 Pages
August 11, 2024 by Enclave Publishing
Summary
Fearless. Defender. Shield Maiden.Brighid returns to the Nordic forces. But she is not alone. Her newfound companion accompanies her, along with Kaeden, the Eldaran Truthsayer. Together, they approach the battlefield, powered by a unique bond forged since their first encounter.
Yet a dark and menacing presence grows within Brighid’s mind. Her connection to death has returned, and this time, there is no oath to numb the terror. Will she be able to fight and protect her people while sensing the reaper of life?
Kaeden’s recent conflict with one of the Shadonae has left scars across both his body and soul. Still, he is determined to finish what he has started and free both the Nordic people and the world of this great evil. To do so, he may have to sacrifice everything to reach the one who has bound the Nordic people to this deadly war.
Kaeden will need Brighid’s help. But when he reveals the truth behind the dreams they have shared, Brighid must make a choice that could change not only her future but the fate of her people: accept the bond between them or let it fade―and lose him along with it.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
WINTER'S DAWN picks right up from where the second book left off with a bit of a recap woven through the first few chapters. Here readers will see the characters come into their own even more than at the end of book two as they face the enemy and sue for peace. There is a consistent feel of the climax building in this story so that readers are completely engrossed by the time we see how everything plays out.
It's an exciting read and finishes off this series well!From reading the previous two books, I already loved both of the main characters and was excited to dive into book three. I was curious to see how they would deal with their enemies and possibly find something sweet between themselves. Brighid is still fierce and independent, while equally warm towards family and Kaeden. Kaeden is steady and becomes the foundation of this group. I liked how they both have their own strengths, fears and weaknesses, and how they compliment each other. There are some other side characters, including Brighid's bear, and then the villains who all play their roles well.
The plot itself was steady, with some slower sections and then some climatic ones. There is some romance that slowly builds and never takes the central focus of the story. The religious aspect is another aspect of this story that is woven throughout. It does get fairly strong towards the end. I probably would have liked it to feel more organic and some of the dialogue towards the end to feel more realistic. Some of it was a bit overly cute instead of feeling more like what the characters would say. And there were some things that weren't realistic at all with some opportunities for more depth that were skipped. What I enjoyed most was the kindship, the action, and not knowing at all how everything would come about in the end. I got to enjoy the ride and living with these characters as they figure it all out.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable story with great characters and an intriguing plot. I'm looking forward to seeing what Busse writes next!
Content: Some violence, war and death but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
(Linked to my reviews.)
Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the FOLLOWER OF THE WORD series, THE SOUL CHRONICLES, and THE RAVENWOOD SAGA. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and winner of both the INSPY and the Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.
To celebrate her tour, Morgan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Have you read any other Norse or Viking books that you enjoyed? What interests you about this series?
