Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole Series: The Arcana Chronicles,
Published by Simon and Schuster on 2015-01-06
Length: 336 pages
Reviewing Audiobook, eBook from My Book Shelf
Rating:
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Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.
Heartbreaking decisions
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.Uncertain victory
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.Two heroes returned
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first...?
Initial Reaction
I have experience trauma at the hands of a book people!!! Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole is the third book in her series The Arcana Chronicles and it is explosive! I’ve had the book sitting on my Kindle for over a year now. I pre-ordered it because I wanted….no I needed to jump right in, but then when it came out I was scared to start it because I KNEW there would be an epic cliffhanger and I KNEW I wouldn’t be able to handle it. NOW I have to wait for the next book and I already feel myself dying inside just a little at the thought!
Dead of Winter picks up right where The Endless Knight left off. ***Please note that if you haven’t read this series, there are minor spoilers to previous books within this review!*** Evie has tricked Death and escaped his mansion/her prison to save Jack from the hands of the Lovers. But to defeat them she will have to ally herself with other Arcana, she may even need Death’s help.
The Love Triangle from Hades
Death loves Evie. Jack loves Evie. Evie thought she loved Jack, but he betrayed her. Evie thought she might be falling for Death, but he tried to coerce her. Now everything is is just SO confusing with these three. I KNOW who I root for *cough* DEATH *cough* but ultimately Evie’s the one with the hard decision to make.
I like Evie. She’s a girl who has these amazing abilities (hello she’s the Empress card and she controls plants and poisons) but she doesn’t want to use them. She’s afraid of what they are doing to her, what she will become. Basically Evie doesn’t want to be evil. She wants her old life back.
Jack….I really fell in love with Jack right along side Evie in the first book but then he made a douche move. He SLEPT with Evie and then LIED to her face. Who does that?! AND who can get over that?! Maybe I’m a bit biased, I am clearly #TeamDeath here but honestly, I just want to drop kick Jack. Everything out of his mouth I question and I hurt for Evie because she does too. She doesn’t want to question him, she wants to trust him, but he isn’t making it easy by lying at every turn.
Death *swoon* Death’s real name is Aric, he’s lived for hundreds of years as he was the victor of the last three games and he is my pick. I want Evie to choose him. He’s gentle with her while scaring the bejeezus out of her all at the same time. He’s lonely and in love and Evie is the only person who can fix that. She’s the only one who Aric can touch without killing. It’s a star-crossed love in the making. And seriously EVIE CHOOSE HIM!!!!
The Creepy Lovers
At the end of the last book, Evie finds out that the twins, the Lovers card, have Jack. She asks Death to help her save him, but Death wants something in return. He wanted Evie to consummate their marriage. Instead she used a sleeping poison to put him out and escaped. Now she’s got to come up with a way to save Jack from the Lovers and defeat them. BUT not much is known about the twins and their Arcana power. So when Death shows up she allies with him to gain his knowledge.
The plot of the book really focuses on the love triangle going on among Evie, Jack, and Aric. BUT it also focuses some on the game. The author delved deeper into Evie’s past lives and her actions in the past games. Honestly reading it, the reader realizes why Evie doesn’t want to let the “Red Witch” out to play. AND her actions have consequences in this game. The Lovers are out for revenge and a little payback. Seriously they couldn’t be any creepier. Bravo Kresley Cole for that!
My Conclusion
Overall I LOVED this book…but I bet you already guessed that. I love the world-building as it combines not only Greek/Roman mythology but also fantasy and dystopian, my two favorite genres. But that ending….
I can’t handle it. That was one of the WORST cliffhangers ever!!! I won’t spoil it even though I’d love to discuss JUST the ending at length (I could really write an entire post on the last chapter alone). If you’re already a fan of The Arcana Chronicles, then you absolutely need to read this book. If you’re new to the series or you’re a fan of fantasy and dystopia, I highly suggest you start with book one and start you’re binge reading now.
Final Conclusion:
About Kresley Cole
Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Gamemakers series, and five award-winning historical romances.
A master’s grad and former athlete, she has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings.
Her IAD books have been translated into twenty foreign languages, garnered three RITA awards, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists, in the U.S. and abroad.
Cole lives in Florida with her family and “far too many animals.”
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