She is consumed by bitterness and jealousy. He is consumed by thoughts of her. Can he save her from the poison, or is it too late?
Lea is the comforting Winter Queen of Seasoria, a cozy village nestled in the mountains. She avoids as many people as she can, and she is determined not to form attachments with anyone. No matter how charming the Summer Queen’s brother may be.
David knows that as the brother of the Summer Queen, his feelings for Lea can never go past that of friendship due to their laws, but despite this, he can't stop himself from wanting her. Desperate to help her find herself again, he's willing to risk everything to be with her, even if it means being cast out from the only home he has ever known.
But being the Winter Queen of Seasoria is not enough for Lea, and what David learns is that even his forbidden love cannot save her from the poisoned thoughts that plague her.
What happens when a person gives up hope? In Lea and the Poisoned Estate, Lea finds out. Lea's role as the Winter Queen is to spread joy during the winter months:
'It is my power, my duty, to offer comfort and protection so they could believe they would last through the winter. Every Year, it was a heavy responsibility to bear, and it was that responsibility alone that mingled with the light in me.'
But Lea isn't feeling much joy so it becomes an impossible task for her to spread that joy. She discovers there are consequences in not talking to others about her thoughts and trials, by isolating herself, and turning away from those who love her. She becomes trapped in the despair, a prisoner in the snow castle. But those who love her do not give up on the hope they know Lea gives and has provided. They seek to help her during her time in need. This story is a clean fairy tale that shows what can happen if a person allows despair and darkness to reign rather than hope and light. Kindness, love, and the hope of others helping in a time of need, can change those feelings of one who is in need. I enjoyed this story and the banter with the characters. It's a clean fairy tale with a message of hope and love. I found the characters dialog and thoughts engaging. Lea's dad is a very wise man and the conversations they had gave Lea lots to think on. And the clean romance between David, the summer queen's brother, and Lea was very sweet. This is a stand alone, but reading Frey and the Icy Orchard will help fill in some blanks. I received this copy as an ARC, but all the opinions are my own.
I liked the story. It was more cozy than I expected, given the description. The pace was slow, but the story and plot were enjoyable. Don't pick this up if you are looking for a quick read, it is better suited for a cozy, casual pace... it is very character driven.
This book was really unique and I like the creative way that the author incorporates Snow White's poison etc. This book has a lot of emotional depth and themes of forgiveness and acceptance.
The FMC was very introverted and bitter about things in her life. Despite the negativity she was feeling, she was able to recognize other's feelings and when she was wrong. I really liked her relationship with her father and her step-mother, something different from the original tale that was rather refreshing.
The MMC is a sunshine-cinnamon roll. He is really sweet and flirty. There are plenty of sweet and swoony moments between them, especially in the first half of the book.
I also liked the side characters and the concept of seasonal royals. I think the world-building in this book was very unique. I would love to see more stories about the royals - James, Ava, etc.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy, character-driven works with character development.
grumpy, introverted fmc. sunshine, cinnamon roll mmc forced proximity poisoned sleep cozy winter setting family dynamics royal politics friendship dynamics
I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lea and the Poisoned Estate is the second installment of the Lore of Seasoria series by Scarlett Luna Strange. In this tale, Lea, the Winter Queen of Seasoria, is consumed by bitterness and jealousy, while David—the Summer Queen’s brother—is equally consumed by thoughts of her. While this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting with Frey and the Icy Orchard. Lea’s story is deeply connected to Frey’s and takes place after the events of the first book.
The book is a quick, engaging read with short chapters that keep the pace moving. While some of the themes are heavy, they are handled exceptionally well. Lea’s internal struggle serves as a poignant reminder that fairytales aren’t always bright and happy. That said, I was immediately captured by the opening scene; Lea strolling through the snow as David arrives felt like a lovely fairytale.
I’ll definitely be exploring the rest of the series. Seasoria truly transports you to another place and time, and I’m eager to learn more of its lore.
I loved this retelling of Snow White! Lea and The Poisoned Estate was whimsical and riveting. It was a creative approach to the Snow White fairy tale. The whole story is fascinating and full of twists. I loved learning more about Seasoria and the different roles each season royalty plays. The world building was well done. Also, I loved Lea’s character growth, it was well written. Bitterness is a poisoned that can take root deeply, her struggles were relatable. David was a sweetheart! His devotion to Lea was admirable. Loved the opening scene with the two! Their banter was fantastic! So many sweet moments. This was a fantastic story that I did not want to put down. I cannot wait to read the Spring King’s story next!
•The romance was no spice and kisses only.
I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
I really did enjoy this book I really like Scarlett’s style of writing. It’s descriptive and immersive. I fell totally for the characters in this book. Poor Lea she was my favourite of all. I must say you should read Frey and the icy orchard first because it will help you understand this world more. I felt a little off reading this book as my first as I hadn’t had the lay of this world before. But it all came into play quick and fast as I immersed myself more. Thank you so much for this fantastic read
I received an ARC for received an ARC for Lea and the Poisoned Estate. I suggest reading Frey and the Icey Orchard first it is referenced alot in this book.
I liked the twist on the tale of snow white not only was the stepmother not evil but the poison was some else entirely. I loved this book i really felt for Lea and what she was going though and David was her never ending support. He was with her through everything. Can't wait for more.
I enjoyed my time in Seasoria with Lea and David. This was one of those books that I missed the characters once I had finished the book!
I felt like David's personality was a little too bold and pushy, so I could understand Lea's stand-offishness towards him. But, I had warmed up to him by the end of the story. I loved Lea's family/household, especially her father. He was a lot of fun!
I highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of clean fairy tales/fantasy!
What a refreshing book! I loved the clean romance, the way the younger generation saved the day, and the way the two main characters and her family never gave up on each other! I could feel the tension as problems were addressed, and as different solutions were tried when one thing didn’t work. The author did an excellent job portraying the emotional isolation that the main character went through! I received an ARC copy and this is my review.
I enjoyed this story! Scarlett does a great job of writing characters with strong, tangible emotions. I did have some trouble following parts of the story, which made it tricky to stay immersed in the book. I loved the ice skating scene, and seeing more of Frey and Kian!
Sweet and just a bit magical (it's a fairytale remake, of course it's magical!) This is a unique world with a delightful set of characters/circumstances, and I'm definitely up for revisiting Seasoria in the future!
I enjoyed reading this wonderful book! This book has wonderful characters and a wonderful plot! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down! I will read the next book in this wonderful series!