The Winter King

I had high expectations for this book. Too high, perhaps. I think I wanted a fantasy romp with some romance, not a romance novel spiced up with fantasy elements. Let me explain what I mean.

Fantasy novels are more epic compared to this book, which was more fantasy lite. Fantasy novels often focus on building the world and magic while this one has just light touches of world building. The magic system isn't explained terribly thoroughly, for one. Instead the book focuses on the back and forth between the hero and the heroine.

This pleased the romance reader in me (their interactions are pretty typical of a romance novel imho). But the fantasy reader in me was frustrated with the simple fantasy plot and convenient deux ex machinas at the end.

But what frustrated me most were the villains. I am afraid I have been completely spoiled by works like Game of Thrones, where you actually are torn on which side to support! Winter Kings bad guys are laughably one dimensional, from the evil evil arse of a father, to the jealous admirer - common characters in many romance novels.

Still, I believe many romance readers will find WK a step above many romance novels because of the scope and depth it goes to develop a world. But this book is by no means “epic” to fantasy readers used to more complex work.