Read wRite Run
Hakara and Rasha each had such distinctive stories I enjoyed both of them. Each time I would be reading one point of view, on reaching the end of the chapter I would be so immersed into the story that I would desperately want more of it and would be momentarily disappointed when the character for the next chapter would change, but then would be sucked into that story and the cycle would start all over again.
Once again David Wellington manages to create such a perfect air of horror that the entire read is wrought with tension and paranoia. At every moment the reader is left wondering when something horrifying will jump out at the characters and the concern this generates for their safety is intense as no one ever feels safe.
Coal is the rebellious, screw up of a Christmas Prince in training to become the King of Christmas despite hating the idea of a role that relies solely on cheapening Christmas as a holiday to nothing more than “plastic trinkets”. Coal’s life is thrown off kilter even further when he is stuck between the overwhelming attraction he feels for a mysterious stranger he meets one night, and his familial duty of an arranged marriage to the Princess of Easter which his father expects of him.
I was so there for how much Coal was simping over Hex, and in particular Hex wearing his corset. It was adorable and the fact that Coal is so smitten with Hex from the instant he meets him made this such a cute read.
The unique world was a highlight of the book. I found the fact of each separate holiday having its own royal family and the competitiveness with which the families (here’s looking at you Christmas) would try to be the best of the best was such an interesting concept. I really enjoyed how they each came from a world of everything you would expect from each holiday, and that the families would epitomize the concept of the holidays. Not to mention that they would each come together and interact with one another and the ways in which they effect the rest of the world through their holidays. And of course the competition (at least in Christmas’ eyes as far as acquiring joy, the source of power for their magic).
All together it was a very cute read and I really enjoyed the relationship and interactions between Coal and Hex. They were too cute for words and impossible not to root for. Especially with their opposite personalities which worked so well together. Even the friendships in this book were a highlight though, particularly between Coal, Iris, and Kris. They had such a pure relationship and were there for one another no matter what. And I also loved the text chain between the three of them which had me laughing frequently. This was definitely a nice little romcom and perfect for a quick, easy read.
This book is the kind of fantasy that sucks me into the world created immediately. It is the stuff of high fantasy with unique world building, politics, and of course, dragons.
The atmosphere of this book is incredible. It combines the beauty of the setting with the uncertainty of the unknown and the sheer danger of the environment to create such unsettling vibes that match the story perfectly.