Arcana Chronicles (3) - Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole
And part 3: Dead of Winter (In den Fängern der Nacht) Originally published 2015, I read it in English with 303 pages.
Evie has to defeat the Lovers, once and for all. But going with both Aric and Jack makes the matter far more difficult: each boy tries to win her over again, both in their own manner… and both are furious with her for some reason or other. On top of that, Evie has to learn what it really means to be the Empress and sew the fruit of her past lives’ cruelty. And Matthew has disappeared without a trace…
The most important thing at first.
I’m all team Aric. Seriously, that guy has invented the word honest! At least he stands up and says what he did and why… unlike Jack. And I like how Aric shows her that he really takes her seriously. His teaching manners are a bit… cough. But hey, she has to learn fast.
I love that Evie hasn’t actually given in in Endless Knight – I’ve feared as much – and I love how she took care of him, and how he reacts to this. Their reunion is such a beautiful scene! And “I’d take a bullet for that”. Okay, that’s really sweet.
At least Aric’s honest about what he feels!
As for Jack, I’m almost positive that he’s the Emperor – if it wasn’t for the ending. He’s a natural leader and the way he gets the hierarchy and, well, the leading stuff is… well, it has to be an Arcana power, right? Fort Arcana is… interesting.
Okay, to the ending.
Spoiler:
This entire book, Aric has been built up as the person Evie will choose, but she chose Jack. For the life he can offer her. It makes sense, in a way. But he just left her, before she made the decision? What the hell?! He just gave up on her! You don’t just give up on the people you love, not in a situation like this, and not in the way he did. Aric would be so much better for her!
But I’m sorry for Selena. She’s been through so much…
The new cards are interesting, the High Priestess – kind of fascinating. And the Lovers? Good God, they are so creepy! Really, that’s horror poor.
But I love how Evie fought in the end. She seriously has powers.
Anything else?
The ideas were original, the story fascinating, makes sense and stays mind-blowing… yep, that was it.
In brief:
Stars for characters, style, ideas and content.
Prequel:
Sequel: