Title: Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles #3)
Author: Kresley Cole
Genre: Young Adult // Romance // Dystopia // Magic
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication: January 6, 2015
Format: Physical
Source: Borrowed (Library)
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...(goodreads)?
End of Winter took away everything I loved about the second book and introduced the inevitable love triangle.
Plot: End of Winter picks up a few weeks after the events of Endless Knight with Evie frantically trying to rescue Jack who is being held hostage by the twisted Lovers Card. While we learn a bit more about the Cards and their origin, I felt very removed from the Arcana in this book. While the Arcana were at the forefront of Endless Knight, they seemed to play second fiddle to the banter between Jack and Aric and Evie's continuous self-doubt. Much like Endless Knight, this one ended in a cliffhanger that basically made me need the fourth (and hopefully last?) book.
Characters: I don't know why, but the main characters of End of Winter annoyed me more in this book than they did in previous novels. Their dialogue and reactions didn't seem mature enough for the (sexual) situations they found themselves in. Each character felt like a caricature with no real depth.
Like most love triangles, the two men vying for Evie's affections must travel together and fight along the way and make Evie question the decision that she doesn't really even have to make. I said that in the first book, I didn't like Evie and Jack's relationship together, I'm starting to see the damaged side of Aric as well. Really, Evie should just kick both of them to the curb and hang out with Matthew.
World Building: I enjoy that Kresley Cole keeps us on the move with this series: Evie and her friends are constantly exploring new areas and seeing how people are adapting to The Flash.
Short N Sweet: End of Winter seems to be taking two steps backwards instead of forward. The plot is interrupted by a played out love triangle and characters who haven't seen a lot of growth since the series began.
Labels: 3 stars, arcana chronicles, end of winter, endless knight, kresley cole, poison princess, simon and schuster books for young readers
