Traitor of Redwinter: The Redwinter Chronicles Book Two

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There were downsides, though. First of all: Ed McDonald needs to get a female sensitivity reader. I don’t want to read the phrase “tingles tingles” in regards to how a woman feels about a man or woman again. It’s an immature expression of desire for a woman like Raine. It doesn’t fit. It was also predictable. I didn’t mind the predictability this time, but the point stands. The last point is the ending. It felt a bit deus ex machina. My favourite aspect of this series (so far) is the ongoing mystery behind the Queen of Feathers, regardless of what was happening plot wise, one of the main drivers for me was waiting for an uninvited appearance for her to reveal that little bit more about her purpose and our MCs role Speaking of Raine, she is the second piece that makes this book so good. Raine is the driving force of the narrative; sometimes it is her decisions and actions that pull it along, sometimes it is the actions of others. But even then things always revolve around Raine. She is the pawn being used but also sometimes the queen calling the shots and playing her own game of chess. And her journey is extremely emotional. I felt it constantly. I also like that she makes so many mistakes. As someone who also constantly makes mistakes, I can absolutely relate to her. Raine is so well-written, and that makes her story the highlight of the book. I was a bit nervous that I might not like Traitor of Redwinter as much, but I needn't have worried. I loved it. I literally could not put this book down.

In writing TRAITOR OF REDWINTER it felt like author McDonald took DAUGHTER OF REDWINTER and exploded it. The storyline was absolutely thrilling. I am going to highlight two of my favorite aspects of the book.Amidst the multifaceted plot, McDonald introduces a compelling array of political machinations, fueling a sense of foreboding and treachery that permeates the story. Raine's struggles are compounded by the conflicting allegiances and the shadowy motives of those around her, culminating in a series of unexpected twists and revelations that heighten the intensity. Ovitus is the worst and I continue to despise him. Thank you to Tor Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.*** I'm a huge fan of stories told in the first-person perspective. I love that they're written as if the main character is telling their story to me. I especially like it when the character has a few things to learn either through youth or inexperience because then I get to learn about their world as they learn it. Sanvaunt continued to shine as an exceptional supporting character, just as he did in the first book. The same can be said for Esher and Liara, who added depth and richness to the story. While I had reservations about Ovitus in Daughter of Redwinter, my dislike for him deepened exponentially in Traitor of Redwinter, leaving me with an intense loathing for his character. lol! I am itching to into details but alas spoilers…. The development of the relationship between Esher and Raine was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, filled with tender moments that touched my soul. Similarly, the dynamic between Sanvaunt and Raine evoked bittersweet emotions, tugging at my heartstrings. It wasn’t war. Not yet, anyway, but it was the fronting of war, the way that two drunks square up to one another outside a bar that should have closed hours ago, that moment of posturing before the blows start to fall.

It’s not that it’s a bad book per se, it’s just that I didn’t get along with it at all, and for the first two thirds of the book it felt like I was wading through treacle trying to read it. I just lost all interest in it and there were more than quite a few times that I was contemplating not actually finishing the book. Amidst threats old and new, Raine must learn the secrets promised by the book, magic promised by a queen with a crown of feathers. A queen to whom Raine has promised more than she can afford to give. The first thing I will say is a massive THANKYOU to the author who added a ‘previously on’ style recap that refreshed book one in my mind when it came to reading book 2. Such a great idea and I wish more authors did it.

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The thing about both of books in this series is that despite the fact they go dark places they feel like a comfy blanket I can wrap around myself because I genuinely get lost in this story and characters without feeling beaten to the ground. There is a nice balance between serious and grave scenes and scenes of just Raine and her friends being young and everything that comes with that: emotional, fun and stupid, moody, self-absorbed and sweet. But the grandmaster has her own plans for Raine, and the deadly training she has been given has not been conducted carelessly. In Raine she seeks to craft a weapon to launch right into her enemy’s heart, as Redwinter seeks to hold onto power. Overall, perhaps this suffers from middle book syndrome, but Raine has definitely stepped into her powers and I can’t wait till the epicness of the next book! As I began to ponder my thoughts about Traitor of Redwinter, I struggled to come up with anything cohesive to say. After plenty of reflection, I've decided that it is probably because my reading experience with this book was so out of the ordinary. I trudged through the first two-thirds so slowly even though the general ideas and characters were fascinating. Then the last third had me so hooked I couldn't put it down. The last bit of the book also made me see the first parts in a new light, and I don't think of them as negatively now as I did upon first reading them.

Her indecision towards Sanvaunt is a little annoying in my opinion. I think she dithers too much in letting herself have those emotions. McDonald pushes it, but Sanvaunt’s reaction saves it for me. Also, she has the same indecision towards Esher. I’m not sure who I want her to end up with. I think, in fact, I want her to end up with both. I like the magic. I like the various trances, the various “Gates”, that McDonald uses as magical states. I think this is a neat balance of magical system and yet retaining the otherness of magic. I like that it’s organized, yet not scientific. Sometimes, magic systems are over-systematized, and they lose some of the power that magic has. McDonald has found a balance that works for me. His system can be organized, documented, and studied; yet, it retains its mystery. The inner workings aren’t scientific, at least to the reader; they’re magical. And I prefer that in my fantasy novels. Uncommonly vivid and vigorous sword and sorcery… McDonald makes familiar story and character beats come alive with imagination and energy.”— Publishers Weekly, starred review My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing for an advance copy of the second book in a a very promising fantasy series dealing with growing up, politics dark magic, love, relationships, and secret enemies who want to tear it all down. How many, do you think?’ Castus asked. He sat high, a slender figure atop a tall horse. I’d got down in the mud; I wanted a closer look.It's hard being a Sarathi among the Draoihn, but it's even harder being young and not knowing what to do with all the feelings. Daughter of Redwinter has it all: enigmatic characters, shady politics, secret cults, ancient evils, and a young woman grappling with her own shattered identity while navigating a world in which no one is quite what they seem.”—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld The second in Ed McDonald’s Chronicles of Redwinter, full of shady politics, militant monks, ancient powers… and a young woman navigating a world in which no one is quite what they seem. There were some pacing issues especially in the middle of the book when I began to get a bit bored. Sadly, the e book of the ARC is badly formatted with random numbers inserted into the text as well as a lot of very random line breaks which broke up the sense of the writing and made it hard to focus on what was happening. In the second book, I feel like we've taken some strange turns. It takes place eight months after the first book. The characters started acting a bit differently, the pacing was a bit halting and overall it's been a weird experience.

Raine’s PTSD plays a big role in this book. This was handled wonderfully. McDonald lets his other characters see her PTSD, and they all try to talk to her about it. However, she tries to be strong, which is a typical reaction. This was a sensitive portrayal of PTSD without being cliche. It’s still a fantastic book and a fantastic series. I still love it. I’m still enjoying the magic and the characters and the world. I just think it needs some tweaking. I ignored Castus and laboured hard enough to roll one of them over. My suspicion was confirmed, and it didn’t sit easy. But others have plans for Raine too, and as the king’s health fails, rebellious lords begin to vie for power. Her former friend Ovitus seeks Raine’s support as his clan turns to him for leadership, while the grandmaster seeks to harness Raine’s potential as a deadly weapon to be launched right into her enemy’s heart as even Redwinter scrambles to hold onto power.Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. There were some great plot reveals that I never saw coming, and some of the magical and fantasy worldbuilding elements dazzled me and felt fresh even after reading hundreds of other modern fantasy books. But it is a rare act of kindness—rescuing an injured woman in the snow—that becomes the most dangerous decision Raine has ever made. Dangerous because the woman is fleeing from Redwinter, the fortress-monastery of the Draoihn, warrior magicians who answer to no king, and who will stop at nothing to reclaim what she’s stolen. A battle, a betrayal, and a horrific revelation force Raine to enter the citadel and live among the Draoihn. She soon finds that her secret ability could be the key to saving an entire nation.