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Red Winter Trilogy #3
Immortal Fire
Once, Emi believed the heavenly gods were righteous and wise, while the earthly yokai spirits were bloodthirsty and evil. But with a traitorous deity poised to destroy her world, and the yokai standing as humanity's only defense, the lies of her upbringing have toppled to reveal a far more terrifying reality.
Despite the looming threat, Emi can't escape her greatest distraction: Shiro, the fox yokai who has so deftly claimed her heart for his own. Soon—too soon—she will have to break the curse that binds his magic and memories. And once the ancient power inside him awakens, the yokai she loves will be changed forever.
As the earthly gods gather to wage war against the heavens, Emi and Shiro must gamble everything to turn the tide against their immortal, all-powerful foes. Together, they will find a way to save her world—even if it means losing each other.
Despite the looming threat, Emi can't escape her greatest distraction: Shiro, the fox yokai who has so deftly claimed her heart for his own. Soon—too soon—she will have to break the curse that binds his magic and memories. And once the ancient power inside him awakens, the yokai she loves will be changed forever.
As the earthly gods gather to wage war against the heavens, Emi and Shiro must gamble everything to turn the tide against their immortal, all-powerful foes. Together, they will find a way to save her world—even if it means losing each other.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2017
652 people are currently reading
5091 people want to read
About the author
Annette Marie
50 books7,219 followersAnnette Marie is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the expansive urban fantasy series The Guild Codex, epic urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.
A 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Fantasy and an Amazon Charts Bestseller, Annette has sold over 2 million books. Her books have been translated into French, German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, with readers coming back again and again for her addictive blend of fast-paced adventure, tantalizing forbidden romance, and unforgettable characters.
Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minions of darkness. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in her garden or an art project while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
To find out more about Annette and her books, visit www.annettemarie.ca
A 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Fantasy and an Amazon Charts Bestseller, Annette has sold over 2 million books. Her books have been translated into French, German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, with readers coming back again and again for her addictive blend of fast-paced adventure, tantalizing forbidden romance, and unforgettable characters.
Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minions of darkness. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in her garden or an art project while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
To find out more about Annette and her books, visit www.annettemarie.ca
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,182 reviews
February 16, 2018
i want, "read the red winter trilogy" written on my tombstone.
August 8, 2019
Oh my god, it hurts too much
October 20, 2024
Tomorrow is my last day in the world. I am not afraid.
✅ Magic
✅ Asian inspired / Rich world-building
✅ Japanese mythology
✅ Sweet and swoon-worthy romance
✅ Characters / Character development
✅ Plot
✅ Pace and action
✅ Gorgeous illustrations
✅ Lots of emotions
❗️❗️ Be sure to have Kleenex near you while reading this book
_______________________
Second read: This series is spectacular.
_______________________
This book is the magnificent ending to a great trilogy, I am speechless. Each book in this series is a slow-building of emotions, leading up to this truly incredible book. What a wild adventure this series was. Immortal Fire is a real roller-coaster of emotions, but it is definitely worth every laugh and every tear. 💗
“I would forget everything else,” he murmured, “as long as I didn’t forget who I am with you. This is who I want to be.”
I got so attached to the characters, that I laughed with them and shamelessly wept for them. The last 100 pages were a cry fest for me because everything was so sweet and beautiful while being tragic at the same time. The characters were going through tough times and dealing with raw emotions, but the author wrote it in a way that showed the characters' strengths and selflessness. So many moments made me cry near the end!
As I said, a roller-coaster of emotions.
She had wished this day would never end, but more than anything, she wished she could erase the veiled pain in his eyes, the growing shadow of loneliness that awaited him once she was gone. She wished she could forever banish the cold flames that threatened to seal his heart in ice again.
Emi changed so much in two months, she became braver, stronger, and even more selfless than she was. It broke my heart to read how she was not afraid to die anymore, but she was afraid to leave Shiro all alone because she knew it would break him. She changed so much, and became so brave and determined to help out as much as she could before she died… It has been a while since a book made me cry, but these books that make us feel such strong emotions are the best. ❤️
”You are my fire Emi. You are my warmth. Before you, the flames within me were cold as ice.”
Shiro is also one of my favorite book boyfriends now. He was sassy, playful, and flirtatious at first, but in the second half of the series, we discovered an intense, sexy, and hot side of him. His fierce protectiveness of Emi and his love declarations were swoon-worthy.
Yumei is also a character I liked since the beginning of the series, despite his rude and gruff attitude, and he truly shone in the epilogue of this book. Also, the way he grudgingly let Emi hug him made me smile like a deranged person.
“I would have kept you forever, little miko.” His words were soft, almost soundless. ”I would have taken you with me wherever the tides of time carried us, and I would have loved you until the very end.”
A part of me is sad to be done already with this series, but I am already looking forward to re-reading it eventually. I am still reeling with emotions, but I can't understand why this series is not more popular, I strongly recommend it! It makes me want to give a try to Annette Marie’s other series for sure.
0.5 Prince of Shadows ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. Red Winter ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Dark Tempest ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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January 4, 2018
Dear author,
I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU HOW DARE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HAYE YOU I HATE YOU BUT most of all
I FREAKING LOVE YOU
Like I cAnT eVEn
"That, little miko, was a lie.”
*CRIES*
I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU HOW DARE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HAYE YOU I HATE YOU BUT most of all
I FREAKING LOVE YOU
Like I cAnT eVEn
"That, little miko, was a lie.”
*CRIES*
September 23, 2024
– re-read no°2: 4 stars
How did I went from feeling absolutely nothing and being bored in Red Winter to trying to hold back my tears in the last 40% of Immortal Fire , but losing that battle quicker than I can get tissues. Is that how it feels like to develop a conscience?
The Red Winter trilogy is a YA fantasy series based on Japanese mythology and reminded me so much of Inu Yasha. If you loved Inu Yasha YOU NEED TO READ THIS ASAP!!! Even if you didn't watch Inu Yasha, please read this series, cause it's so underrated and needs more attention!! (don't mind my ratings, because that's more on me than on the books) Shiro and Emi are two precious beans that need to be protected at all costs. Just reading some of the quotes in this book is making me emotional af. 🥺
Some of my fav quotes:
Actions change our course, influence our futures, but intentions define us, empower us. Without intent, we are nothing.
*
He didn't love her enough for his soul to be forever changed, but she was afraid her soul had already been rewritten in his flames.
*
His eyes turned to hers, sorrow and longing wining in their depths. "I don't want to lose this. You are my fire, Emi. You are my warmth. Before you, the flames within me were cold as ice."
*
"I would have kept you forever, little miko." His words were soft, almost soundless. "I would have taken you with me wherever the tides of time carried us, and I would have loved you until the very end."
*
"Some pain," Yumei murmured, "is too much to endure when you live forever. If he had not saved you, he would have regretted it for eternity."
*
brb i'm crying 😭😭😭 just Shiro saying "little miko" is triggering me and something is leaking from my eyes 😭
and now the cherry on top is that there are illustrations of certain scenes throughout all the books and they are so wholesome and make the series come more alive!! <3 just a lil teaser on how these illustrations look
His lips brushed her ear. "Whatever tomorrow brings, do not forget that, Emi."
A strange flutter of anxiety danced through her. "I won't forget."
"Do you promise?"
She nuzzled under his chin, needing to be even close to him.
"Yes, I promise."
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
RED WINTER TRILOGY
#1 Red Winter – 3 stars
#2 Dark Tempest – 3.5 stars
#3 Immortal Fire – 4 stars
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
How did I went from feeling absolutely nothing and being bored in Red Winter to trying to hold back my tears in the last 40% of Immortal Fire , but losing that battle quicker than I can get tissues. Is that how it feels like to develop a conscience?
The Red Winter trilogy is a YA fantasy series based on Japanese mythology and reminded me so much of Inu Yasha. If you loved Inu Yasha YOU NEED TO READ THIS ASAP!!! Even if you didn't watch Inu Yasha, please read this series, cause it's so underrated and needs more attention!! (don't mind my ratings, because that's more on me than on the books) Shiro and Emi are two precious beans that need to be protected at all costs. Just reading some of the quotes in this book is making me emotional af. 🥺
Some of my fav quotes:
Actions change our course, influence our futures, but intentions define us, empower us. Without intent, we are nothing.
*
He didn't love her enough for his soul to be forever changed, but she was afraid her soul had already been rewritten in his flames.
*
His eyes turned to hers, sorrow and longing wining in their depths. "I don't want to lose this. You are my fire, Emi. You are my warmth. Before you, the flames within me were cold as ice."
*
"I would have kept you forever, little miko." His words were soft, almost soundless. "I would have taken you with me wherever the tides of time carried us, and I would have loved you until the very end."
*
"Some pain," Yumei murmured, "is too much to endure when you live forever. If he had not saved you, he would have regretted it for eternity."
*
brb i'm crying 😭😭😭 just Shiro saying "little miko" is triggering me and something is leaking from my eyes 😭
and now the cherry on top is that there are illustrations of certain scenes throughout all the books and they are so wholesome and make the series come more alive!! <3 just a lil teaser on how these illustrations look
His lips brushed her ear. "Whatever tomorrow brings, do not forget that, Emi."
A strange flutter of anxiety danced through her. "I won't forget."
"Do you promise?"
She nuzzled under his chin, needing to be even close to him.
"Yes, I promise."
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
RED WINTER TRILOGY
#1 Red Winter – 3 stars
#2 Dark Tempest – 3.5 stars
#3 Immortal Fire – 4 stars
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
March 25, 2019
Why is this series not more popular and well known?! This was a great ending to a surprisingly wonderful YA Japanese mythology/fantasy-esque trilogy!
This series follows Emi, a human girl who has worked almost her entire life to become the vassal for one of the Japanese gods, Amaterasu. Only it turns out that the details of what that actually entails were never fully explained to her, before it was too late for her to change it. Emi must learn to accept her fate while also helping to save the world from certain destruction by one of the other Gods. Oh and of course there's a romantic entanglement too with a kitsune ;)
The entire plot is rooted in Japanese culture and mythology, which I was admittedly almost completely ignorant of prior to reading this series. I was still able to follow along easily enough though (with the help of the provided glossary at times, but I didn't even have to look at it in this third book!). I will say that having Japanese Gods/Goddesses as characters, and thus some of them have names that happen to be pretty similar to one another (but obviously the names could not be changed by the author, it would be like renaming Jesus) did make it a little tricky for me as a reader to keep them all straight in my head at first. But given that unavoidable complication, I think the author did a great job of bringing these, completely unknown to me, set of Gods/characters to life.
So if you are in the mood for a new-to-you YA Fantasy series that's different from all the Fey stuff that is currently out there, I highly suggest picking this series up! And as a reminder, definitely don't do the audiobook because then you will miss out on the wonderful illustrations sprinkled throughout the book!
This series follows Emi, a human girl who has worked almost her entire life to become the vassal for one of the Japanese gods, Amaterasu. Only it turns out that the details of what that actually entails were never fully explained to her, before it was too late for her to change it. Emi must learn to accept her fate while also helping to save the world from certain destruction by one of the other Gods. Oh and of course there's a romantic entanglement too with a kitsune ;)
The entire plot is rooted in Japanese culture and mythology, which I was admittedly almost completely ignorant of prior to reading this series. I was still able to follow along easily enough though (with the help of the provided glossary at times, but I didn't even have to look at it in this third book!). I will say that having Japanese Gods/Goddesses as characters, and thus some of them have names that happen to be pretty similar to one another (but obviously the names could not be changed by the author, it would be like renaming Jesus) did make it a little tricky for me as a reader to keep them all straight in my head at first. But given that unavoidable complication, I think the author did a great job of bringing these, completely unknown to me, set of Gods/characters to life.
So if you are in the mood for a new-to-you YA Fantasy series that's different from all the Fey stuff that is currently out there, I highly suggest picking this series up! And as a reminder, definitely don't do the audiobook because then you will miss out on the wonderful illustrations sprinkled throughout the book!
August 19, 2017
5 stars
WHY IS THIS SERIES NOT MAINSTREAM
WHY AREN'T THERE MORE PEOPLE READING THESE BOOKS
Legit one of the best series I have ever read to date. The characters, the plot, the action....I have zero complaints. This series deserves so much love.
This is book 3 of the trilogy, and it completely tore me apart. The Feels are THERE, the story is on point, and it left me feeling satisfied. The way it all ends makes sense, and the best part about it is that I didn't see it coming. I LOVED being surprised by the plot twists and storyline and having no clue what was going to happen next. That doesn't happen to me often anymore, as I'm finding most YA fantasies follow the same formula and tropes. This series was such a breath of fresh air, and I loved being along for the ride.
WHY IS THIS SERIES NOT MAINSTREAM
WHY AREN'T THERE MORE PEOPLE READING THESE BOOKS
Legit one of the best series I have ever read to date. The characters, the plot, the action....I have zero complaints. This series deserves so much love.
This is book 3 of the trilogy, and it completely tore me apart. The Feels are THERE, the story is on point, and it left me feeling satisfied. The way it all ends makes sense, and the best part about it is that I didn't see it coming. I LOVED being surprised by the plot twists and storyline and having no clue what was going to happen next. That doesn't happen to me often anymore, as I'm finding most YA fantasies follow the same formula and tropes. This series was such a breath of fresh air, and I loved being along for the ride.
June 11, 2022
my eyes are blessed from this mini shiroemi comic🥺
even rereading i still felt every single emotion and now im sad its over again😭 THE LOVE I HAVE FOR THIS SERIES. IT'S LITERALLY SO BEAUTIFUL <33
Yumei and Emi's bond is one of the most precious ones ive ever seen i literally would die of happiness if there was a spin-off abt Yumei
AND SHIRO AND EMI SKGHKS THEYRE SO ADORABLE I ADORE THEM😩💞 i'll never get enough of those two.
if youre looking Japanese mythology based slow-burn romance with the most wholesome relationships PLEASE READ THIS SERIES
Buddy re-read part 3 with my bestie lucy!! I'm so happy you cried over this book and loved it too <33
____________
Original Review [March 27, 2020]:
Istg my heart STOPPED towards the end.😭
But then the Epilogue brought it back to life again.
THANK GOODNESS I got the ending I wanted and the HEA Shiro and Emi deserved.
Honestly, if I didn't get that ending, I was going to automatically drop the rating for this book to 1 star. Probably sounds stupid😅, but I seriously needed a HEA. And I got it!!!😍🥰
Once again, the art blew me away! I wish more books could have pictures every once in awhile. Because the artwork was BEAUTIFUL!💖
My first Japanese mythology based series blew my expectations away!😍 I love Japanese culture and reading this series made me love it even more ~ which I didn't even think was possible!!!💖
I will never forget Yumei's stony expressions, Shiro's flirty comments, and Emi's strong will and kindness. Those three have seared themselves into my heart and I plan to keep it that way.😉🥰
even rereading i still felt every single emotion and now im sad its over again😭 THE LOVE I HAVE FOR THIS SERIES. IT'S LITERALLY SO BEAUTIFUL <33
Yumei and Emi's bond is one of the most precious ones ive ever seen i literally would die of happiness if there was a spin-off abt Yumei
AND SHIRO AND EMI SKGHKS THEYRE SO ADORABLE I ADORE THEM😩💞 i'll never get enough of those two.
if youre looking Japanese mythology based slow-burn romance with the most wholesome relationships PLEASE READ THIS SERIES
Buddy re-read part 3 with my bestie lucy!! I'm so happy you cried over this book and loved it too <33
____________
Original Review [March 27, 2020]:
Istg my heart STOPPED towards the end.😭
But then the Epilogue brought it back to life again.
THANK GOODNESS I got the ending I wanted and the HEA Shiro and Emi deserved.
Honestly, if I didn't get that ending, I was going to automatically drop the rating for this book to 1 star. Probably sounds stupid😅, but I seriously needed a HEA. And I got it!!!😍🥰
Once again, the art blew me away! I wish more books could have pictures every once in awhile. Because the artwork was BEAUTIFUL!💖
My first Japanese mythology based series blew my expectations away!😍 I love Japanese culture and reading this series made me love it even more ~ which I didn't even think was possible!!!💖
I will never forget Yumei's stony expressions, Shiro's flirty comments, and Emi's strong will and kindness. Those three have seared themselves into my heart and I plan to keep it that way.😉🥰
February 23, 2021
wonderful buddy-read-re-read with Diana! thanks babe! i love this series so much❤.
~~~
love is in the air, everytime i read this book
love is in the air, every word and every look
and i don't know if i'm being foolish
don't know if i'm being wise
but it's something that i must reread now
and it's there when i look in Shiro's eyes
(thank you very much, i should clearly be a song writer).
oh my god. this series was just the most addictive, entertaining, gorgeous, romantic, sigh-inducing series i've read in a while, and i loved it.
Red Winter was recommended to me a while ago, but i put it off for quite a few months. and god, do i regret that! but also not, cause there's nothing better than when you first read a series that you know will be one of your faves for a long time. anyway, i LOVED the entire series. i basically read all three books in 2 days and became very sleep-deprived because of it, but i regret NOTHING.
Shiro is, officially and totally, my new number #1 book boyfriend. he's the sweetest, hottest, funniest, snarkiest, most adorably overprotective and precious character ever, and if he and Emi weren't so perfect then i would literally jump into the series by pure force of will and glue myself to his side until Yumei killed me.
which brings us to talking about Yumei. i love Yumei. i really do. at first glance he's rude and so high on his high horse we can barely see the tips of his claws, but underneath it all he's really just..... rude. whoop. i love him but it's true, and that's why i love him. i believe that down in his deep black feathers there's a little red heart that he holds for Emi, who's pretty much his child/little sister. it's so damn cute. i love him so much!
and Emi.... oh Emi, my little child. she's so cute. and sweet. and happy. and adorable. and basically my child, Yumei and i can be joint parents. she works so hard in this series to save the goddamn universe, even though it isn't really her job. and she's always so kind and nice throughout it all, despite all the crap she has to face. together, she and Shiro make the perfect team (and the perfect ship).
all up, i loved this! so much! and it's such an underrated series and such a hidden gem, i really wish more people would give Annette Marie a try!
now i'm starting Annette's Guild Codex series(s), i'm super excited! thanks for getting me into this stunning author, Ash darling (and everyone else who recommended Red Winter!). love you Ash!
~~~
love is in the air, everytime i read this book
love is in the air, every word and every look
and i don't know if i'm being foolish
don't know if i'm being wise
but it's something that i must reread now
and it's there when i look in Shiro's eyes
(thank you very much, i should clearly be a song writer).
oh my god. this series was just the most addictive, entertaining, gorgeous, romantic, sigh-inducing series i've read in a while, and i loved it.
Red Winter was recommended to me a while ago, but i put it off for quite a few months. and god, do i regret that! but also not, cause there's nothing better than when you first read a series that you know will be one of your faves for a long time. anyway, i LOVED the entire series. i basically read all three books in 2 days and became very sleep-deprived because of it, but i regret NOTHING.
Shiro is, officially and totally, my new number #1 book boyfriend. he's the sweetest, hottest, funniest, snarkiest, most adorably overprotective and precious character ever, and if he and Emi weren't so perfect then i would literally jump into the series by pure force of will and glue myself to his side until Yumei killed me.
which brings us to talking about Yumei. i love Yumei. i really do. at first glance he's rude and so high on his high horse we can barely see the tips of his claws, but underneath it all he's really just..... rude. whoop. i love him but it's true, and that's why i love him. i believe that down in his deep black feathers there's a little red heart that he holds for Emi, who's pretty much his child/little sister. it's so damn cute. i love him so much!
and Emi.... oh Emi, my little child. she's so cute. and sweet. and happy. and adorable. and basically my child, Yumei and i can be joint parents. she works so hard in this series to save the goddamn universe, even though it isn't really her job. and she's always so kind and nice throughout it all, despite all the crap she has to face. together, she and Shiro make the perfect team (and the perfect ship).
all up, i loved this! so much! and it's such an underrated series and such a hidden gem, i really wish more people would give Annette Marie a try!
now i'm starting Annette's Guild Codex series(s), i'm super excited! thanks for getting me into this stunning author, Ash darling (and everyone else who recommended Red Winter!). love you Ash!
August 24, 2025
5 ⭐ 5 words:
wistful, romantic, whimsical, captivating and mythological.
Tomorrow is my last day in this world. I am not afraid.
summary : as emi's time comes to an end, she is still determined to make a difference with shiro, yumei and the earthly gods & goddesses, and put an end to the looming deities that threaten to steal the power and destroy the human world. yet her ever-growing feelings for shiro make the inevitable even harder to face: their tragic fates.
--------
that summary i wrote does NOT do this book justice for how incredible it is. nothing will be able to do this series justice or describe how it made me feel, how deeply i connected with all these characters. this is the last novel, and my heart feels so full yet hollowed out. i don't know what i'll do without this series in my life anymore... it's time to write the review 💔
writing: throughout this trilogy, annette's writing has been nothing short of poetic, descriptive and enchanting. her prose mirrors exactly what i try to achieve when i write, which is why i often start my reviews with this aspect. i'm so immensely inspired by the way she strings beautiful yet deep words together, the way she gives a distinct voice to each one of her characters in a way that makes u actually feel. everything she has written has been incredible and i can't help being so fascinated by her books for this. genuinely, i was so fucking upset when i finished this because i realized, "what am i going to read when i need writing inspiration?"
i just cannot thank her enough for creating this beautiful world and writing it so well, because as we all know the bar for writing has recently been set SO low by popular books that just throw decent writing out of the window. annette blew 'decent writing' out of the WATER. it had that ouabh feel but in its own specific font. the dialogue felt realistic yet distinct to a fantasy setting, emi's internal monologue did not bore the hell out of me. she made me love EVERYTHING about this book ... i just can't. ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
plot: i absolutely love how the events of this one played out, the foreshadowing and the smart placing of certain scenes in the favor of others ... she's a genius 😫😫 by this point i was well-acquainted with all important names in the glossary (yes, it took me 3 books) so the plot was not difficult to follow. with every scene and plot point u felt fear or wonder or disappointment, just for annette to turn it around in the next pages and leave you staring at a wall. the maddening parts served a purpose. the beautiful parts would later destroy you. a specific scene towards the end genuinely felt like an "i'm sorry" from the author for what she was about to put her characters through 😭😭
the pacing was mostly perfect but there was that same problem from the last book, where action scenes were too prolonged, chaotic or descriptive to properly keep up. but again, for those who love action this likely won't be an issue. the whole trilogy also has occasional illustrations which are just divine !!!!! and very useful for imagining some scenes properly. it was all beautifully depicted and i always looked forward to the illustrations.
"I don't want to lose this. You are my fire, Emi. You are my warmth. Before you, the flames within me were cold as ice."
characters
emi ... i have no idea what to say 😓😓 literally top 3 best fmcs i've ever read idc . soft yet incredibly strong, so fucking smart and always takes advantage of the few powers she has as a human & the privileges that came with her role in the story. THAT is what made her great and incredibly powerful by the end. not everybody is willing to sacrifice themselves for the world, not everybody has the courage to face their darkest fears head-on rather than dance around reality.
in this story she was the human vessel of the heavenly goddess of the wind. the way she allowed the goddess, amaterasu, to guide her yet carved her own paths and chose the hard decisions was so admirable. literally this series was so crazy bc so much shit happened yet emi came out of everything mostly sane which was baffling ...
emi had her vulnerable moments and her strengths, CLAWED her way out of situations and through all of it she was just INCREDIBLE like the story and all the events shaped her and her way of thinking but she remained positive/kind mostly???? i just fucking love her so much in a world where fmcs love to be insufferable emi just stands out. she's so intelligent. so sad that she had to endure so much pain but it was worth it. in the first book she'd been so conflicted and angry but everything really changed her perspective, and thinking back it's such a satisfying shift. quotes will be added momentarily...i can't find the pages
shiro stole my heart, AGAIN !!!!!!! no one is surprised. shiro had an irresistible charm since the first book but in this one you could really sense when his mind was tapping into his past life. it gave him so much depth and added another layer of sentimentality. emi constantly worried about him 😫😫😫 kill me rn . the way he was so protective and supportive of emi, always looking for a way to reverse things that would be harmful for her even if there was no true way out. shiro also sacrificed things extensively, as his power grew so did his awareness. i need a boyfriend that will scale mountains for me, slay monsters and willingly endanger himself for me . i don't want to spoil but that ending destroyed me so bad, i was wondering what the fuck he was thinking before reality hit me.
yumei oh my god.................. MY prince of shadows. i cannot be within 10 ft of yumei without a fan because hes so fucking HOT . HE WAS NOT EVEN A LOVE INTEREST, the way annette marie wrote not one but TWO incredible mmcs is so shocking to me. yumei has no business being so hot and charismatic he basically kills ppl for a living. he was so closed off in the first book, and in the second book too. in this last one omg he visibly cared for emi and shiro even when though he visibly didn't want to.. one of my fav mmcs ever.
the way u could tell he cared for emi, a human girl that used to be a mere inconvenience to him, towards the end when she was genuinely going insane because of everything that had happened... i can't even tell you how much that made me sob like i lost it. i can't believe annette marie would do this to me. the way yumei allowed shiro to take care of him even while it disgusted him. she wrote yumei as another mc but was able to make him NOT a love interest and evidently appalled by the idea of love or anything touchy-feely UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH STOP . I LITERALLY NEED HER TALENT INJECTED IN MY VEINS.
Yumei resumed walking, keeping hold of her hand in a small, uncharacteristic offering of comfort. Perhaps he could sense the edge of panic clinging to her, the bone-deep terror that she would lose this, lose everything of this world that she was already terrified would someday slip from her grasp.
Emotion stormed through her, and unexpected tears pooled in her eyes. [...] She couldn't even look at Shiro, afraid she would lose all control. Instead, she threw her arms around Yumei.
mind you i'd willingly sell my sister to get my hands on yumei's novella 'prince of shadows'.
the ending. when ariana grande wrote no tears left to cry she was talking about ME. i don't know if i should spoil whether it was happy or sad, but even if i did want to i don't think i'd have an exact answer for that. i feel one way but i also feel another. my heart has been torn apart and then put back together. no matter how much i feel fulfilled i still just want more of these characters, i'll never get enough of this world. i still feel for what emi went through especially during the ending, i'm still curious about yumei and everything about the other side characters. this story was written in such a way that properly closes the events but leaves the reader hanging and wondering all the same. this book definitely made me feel more than the rest in the series, and it's an ending i'll never be able to forget. ❤️❤️❤️
on a side note i need everyone to add this series to their tbr, it is so beautifully consuming and romantic and chaotic as fuck. i wish annette would sign me for the marketing team already i'd be screaming about this series at the top of my lungs on the internet. i envy everyone who is yet to read this for the first time, and i 100% will reread this series eventually because as it turns out i cannot stay away from annette marie's writing, this story or yumei
---
OH MY GOD GUYS. IF YOU SAW ME CRYING OVER THIS BOOK DON'T WORRY! EVERYTHING TURNED OUT FINE, SUICIDE ATTEMPT POSTPONED !!! devastated that ive finished this series however. RTC SOON 5 FUCKING STARS
pre-read: my hands have been itchin and twitchin to start this book yet im not ready for this series to end. it has been the love of my life. wish me luck.
wistful, romantic, whimsical, captivating and mythological.
Tomorrow is my last day in this world. I am not afraid.
summary : as emi's time comes to an end, she is still determined to make a difference with shiro, yumei and the earthly gods & goddesses, and put an end to the looming deities that threaten to steal the power and destroy the human world. yet her ever-growing feelings for shiro make the inevitable even harder to face: their tragic fates.
--------
that summary i wrote does NOT do this book justice for how incredible it is. nothing will be able to do this series justice or describe how it made me feel, how deeply i connected with all these characters. this is the last novel, and my heart feels so full yet hollowed out. i don't know what i'll do without this series in my life anymore... it's time to write the review 💔
writing: throughout this trilogy, annette's writing has been nothing short of poetic, descriptive and enchanting. her prose mirrors exactly what i try to achieve when i write, which is why i often start my reviews with this aspect. i'm so immensely inspired by the way she strings beautiful yet deep words together, the way she gives a distinct voice to each one of her characters in a way that makes u actually feel. everything she has written has been incredible and i can't help being so fascinated by her books for this. genuinely, i was so fucking upset when i finished this because i realized, "what am i going to read when i need writing inspiration?"
i just cannot thank her enough for creating this beautiful world and writing it so well, because as we all know the bar for writing has recently been set SO low by popular books that just throw decent writing out of the window. annette blew 'decent writing' out of the WATER. it had that ouabh feel but in its own specific font. the dialogue felt realistic yet distinct to a fantasy setting, emi's internal monologue did not bore the hell out of me. she made me love EVERYTHING about this book ... i just can't. ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
plot: i absolutely love how the events of this one played out, the foreshadowing and the smart placing of certain scenes in the favor of others ... she's a genius 😫😫 by this point i was well-acquainted with all important names in the glossary (yes, it took me 3 books) so the plot was not difficult to follow. with every scene and plot point u felt fear or wonder or disappointment, just for annette to turn it around in the next pages and leave you staring at a wall. the maddening parts served a purpose. the beautiful parts would later destroy you. a specific scene towards the end genuinely felt like an "i'm sorry" from the author for what she was about to put her characters through 😭😭
the pacing was mostly perfect but there was that same problem from the last book, where action scenes were too prolonged, chaotic or descriptive to properly keep up. but again, for those who love action this likely won't be an issue. the whole trilogy also has occasional illustrations which are just divine !!!!! and very useful for imagining some scenes properly. it was all beautifully depicted and i always looked forward to the illustrations.
"I don't want to lose this. You are my fire, Emi. You are my warmth. Before you, the flames within me were cold as ice."
characters
emi ... i have no idea what to say 😓😓 literally top 3 best fmcs i've ever read idc . soft yet incredibly strong, so fucking smart and always takes advantage of the few powers she has as a human & the privileges that came with her role in the story. THAT is what made her great and incredibly powerful by the end. not everybody is willing to sacrifice themselves for the world, not everybody has the courage to face their darkest fears head-on rather than dance around reality.
in this story she was the human vessel of the heavenly goddess of the wind. the way she allowed the goddess, amaterasu, to guide her yet carved her own paths and chose the hard decisions was so admirable. literally this series was so crazy bc so much shit happened yet emi came out of everything mostly sane which was baffling ...
emi had her vulnerable moments and her strengths, CLAWED her way out of situations and through all of it she was just INCREDIBLE like the story and all the events shaped her and her way of thinking but she remained positive/kind mostly???? i just fucking love her so much in a world where fmcs love to be insufferable emi just stands out. she's so intelligent. so sad that she had to endure so much pain but it was worth it. in the first book she'd been so conflicted and angry but everything really changed her perspective, and thinking back it's such a satisfying shift. quotes will be added momentarily...
shiro stole my heart, AGAIN !!!!!!! no one is surprised. shiro had an irresistible charm since the first book but in this one you could really sense when his mind was tapping into his past life. it gave him so much depth and added another layer of sentimentality. emi constantly worried about him 😫😫😫 kill me rn . the way he was so protective and supportive of emi, always looking for a way to reverse things that would be harmful for her even if there was no true way out. shiro also sacrificed things extensively, as his power grew so did his awareness. i need a boyfriend that will scale mountains for me, slay monsters and willingly endanger himself for me . i don't want to spoil but that ending destroyed me so bad, i was wondering what the fuck he was thinking before reality hit me.
yumei oh my god.................. MY prince of shadows. i cannot be within 10 ft of yumei without a fan because hes so fucking HOT . HE WAS NOT EVEN A LOVE INTEREST, the way annette marie wrote not one but TWO incredible mmcs is so shocking to me. yumei has no business being so hot and charismatic he basically kills ppl for a living. he was so closed off in the first book, and in the second book too. in this last one omg he visibly cared for emi and shiro even when though he visibly didn't want to.. one of my fav mmcs ever.
the way u could tell he cared for emi, a human girl that used to be a mere inconvenience to him, towards the end when she was genuinely going insane because of everything that had happened... i can't even tell you how much that made me sob like i lost it. i can't believe annette marie would do this to me. the way yumei allowed shiro to take care of him even while it disgusted him. she wrote yumei as another mc but was able to make him NOT a love interest and evidently appalled by the idea of love or anything touchy-feely UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH STOP . I LITERALLY NEED HER TALENT INJECTED IN MY VEINS.
Yumei resumed walking, keeping hold of her hand in a small, uncharacteristic offering of comfort. Perhaps he could sense the edge of panic clinging to her, the bone-deep terror that she would lose this, lose everything of this world that she was already terrified would someday slip from her grasp.
Emotion stormed through her, and unexpected tears pooled in her eyes. [...] She couldn't even look at Shiro, afraid she would lose all control. Instead, she threw her arms around Yumei.
mind you i'd willingly sell my sister to get my hands on yumei's novella 'prince of shadows'.
the ending. when ariana grande wrote no tears left to cry she was talking about ME. i don't know if i should spoil whether it was happy or sad, but even if i did want to i don't think i'd have an exact answer for that. i feel one way but i also feel another. my heart has been torn apart and then put back together. no matter how much i feel fulfilled i still just want more of these characters, i'll never get enough of this world. i still feel for what emi went through especially during the ending, i'm still curious about yumei and everything about the other side characters. this story was written in such a way that properly closes the events but leaves the reader hanging and wondering all the same. this book definitely made me feel more than the rest in the series, and it's an ending i'll never be able to forget. ❤️❤️❤️
on a side note i need everyone to add this series to their tbr, it is so beautifully consuming and romantic and chaotic as fuck. i wish annette would sign me for the marketing team already i'd be screaming about this series at the top of my lungs on the internet. i envy everyone who is yet to read this for the first time, and i 100% will reread this series eventually because as it turns out i cannot stay away from annette marie's writing, this story or yumei
---
OH MY GOD GUYS. IF YOU SAW ME CRYING OVER THIS BOOK DON'T WORRY! EVERYTHING TURNED OUT FINE, SUICIDE ATTEMPT POSTPONED !!! devastated that ive finished this series however. RTC SOON 5 FUCKING STARS
pre-read: my hands have been itchin and twitchin to start this book yet im not ready for this series to end. it has been the love of my life. wish me luck.
July 4, 2021
3rd reading: Starting 2021 by rereading this series was one of the best decisions I've made in a while. These books have consistently brought me so much enjoyment in the past and they continued doing so this time too. Everything I said in my previous reviews is still 100% valid in expressing my immense love for this series. 💖💖
So why should YOU read this series? In case you've been sleeping on my other reviews and 25483 updates, there's…
Of course, these books also have their flaws, but there's just so much that is done incredibly well here that I can easily overlook the low points. Every time I read this series, it takes me on an amazing journey and I love every moment of it. (Well… except for the demon spiders. 😖)
So what I'm trying to say is…
And that's probably how most of you view me anyway. It's a fair depiction and I'm not mad about it. 😂 (Now, go read RED WINTER!!!!)
---------------------------------------------
2nd reading: For the past 28 days, this series has been my life. I haven't visited or known any other literary world during that time. While I realize this has all been my own doing - including my decision to reread the entire series immediately after finishing - I am now in the same predicament as before. This book hangover is going to hurt so bad. 😭 (*Edited to add*: It DOES hurt. Like the fire from a thousand kitsunebi. 😭)
Thanks to a discounted three month trial, I spent my summer pouring through the Kindle Unlimited catalogue in search for a new book/series that would reawaken (or should that be rekindle?! Hahaha 😂🤣 *ahem* I'll see myself out now.) my passion for reading. While I did discover several books that I enjoyed immensely, it was THIS series that brought back the heart-rending, nail-biting, gut-wrenching, gotta-stay-up-all-night-to-finish feeling that I've been missing for years now.
One aspect I really appreciated during the second reading of the entire series was the foreshadowing from the very start. So many lines that seemed innocent or appeared to merely provide additional background information ended up carrying significant weight later on. Bravo, Annette Marie. 10 gold stars for you! (Just as an aside: based on what I've read from other reviewers, I am clearly not very astute since I did not piece together some of this earlier on. You know what? I am okay with that because it makes this entire work all the more amazing to me. And that's what matters.)
Is this the most profound piece of literature? Eh, not really. Was it exactly what I wanted/needed at the time? Absolutely!!!! Depending on your own preferences, this may not even be appealing to you. However, I feel the need to be extremely vocal about this series as it does NOT get the love or attention that it deserves. That is all. 💗
---------------------------------------------
Original Review: I just received an email from Goodreads with the title: “You finished Immortal Fire (Red Winter Trilogy, #3). What’s next?” ... What’s next?! What’s next is that I will slip quietly into the world beyond because I am emotionally spent and I don’t even know how to live anymore. I am going to need therapy after this.
THE FEELS ARE REAL. I admit that before I even started this series, I snickered a bit at all of these over-the-top “I’m dead” reviews. It is rare for me to experience external displays of emotion while reading, but with the Red Winter Trilogy, I squirmed (a LOT), chewed off my fingernails, and actually SOBBED on two different occasions. I can’t remember the last time (if ever) I cried over a book. Oh, the feelings are still there, but I hold them tightly to my heart and weep on the inside. This was NOT the case here. I physically hurt from the tension and emotional whiplash. I had to pause regularly just to recover from the intensity of it all.
Over the past week, I have known such beauty and heartache through this one trilogy. As I mentioned in my reviews of Red Winter and Dark Tempest, I loved the modern yet traditional setting and the integration of the Japanese mythology. (By the way, I have never read a book that covered SO MUCH of one culture over the course of approximately 1,000 pages - which seems like a lot, but it is NOT.) I ADORED EVERY SINGLE ONE of these characters with their unique desires, fears, strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Even the villains had arguably honorable motives. I loved having this level of complexity present in so many of the characters. The prose was amazing; the dialogue realistic - even humorous at times. The action sequences were so vividly described that it felt like watching a movie instead of reading a book. The romance was a satisfying slow burn that was everything I didn’t even know I wanted. I don't want to comment on anything specific because I don't want to have to hide this review due to spoilers. Instead, I want your curiosity to force you to check this out for yourself. You're welcome. 😎
Since I haven’t mentioned it in my previous reviews, the artwork featured throughout is absolutely GORGEOUS. While I don’t need pictures in order to create my own detailed imagery, I loved having these scattered throughout and wish this type of art was included in more stories.
Finally, HOW IS THIS SERIES NOT MORE POPULAR?
So why should YOU read this series? In case you've been sleeping on my other reviews and 25483 updates, there's…
• a female lead character who demonstrates unwavering determination, courage despite feeling afraid/incapable and a fierce dedication to her beliefs(Brief side note: As much as I do like the inclusion of certain aspects of Japanese culture, this really is more Japanese mythology fanfiction than an accurate retelling of traditional stories. There are definitely authentic components - such as food, dress, cultural practices - but a lot of liberty was taken with the various kami and yokai featured in the story.)
• a swoon-worthy and forbidden romance with a teasing kitsune
• a wonderful group of secondary characters who develop believable alliances/friendships
• a villain whose motivations actually make sense and who isn't just evil for the sake of being evil
• incredible action scenes featuring elemental magic
• touching moments of emotion and vulnerability
• themes of identity, loneliness, sacrifice, strength in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, and belief in one's self and choices
• a fascinating blending of urban fantasy with traditional Japanese elements
Of course, these books also have their flaws, but there's just so much that is done incredibly well here that I can easily overlook the low points. Every time I read this series, it takes me on an amazing journey and I love every moment of it. (Well… except for the demon spiders. 😖)
So what I'm trying to say is…
And that's probably how most of you view me anyway. It's a fair depiction and I'm not mad about it. 😂 (Now, go read RED WINTER!!!!)
---------------------------------------------
2nd reading: For the past 28 days, this series has been my life. I haven't visited or known any other literary world during that time. While I realize this has all been my own doing - including my decision to reread the entire series immediately after finishing - I am now in the same predicament as before. This book hangover is going to hurt so bad. 😭 (*Edited to add*: It DOES hurt. Like the fire from a thousand kitsunebi. 😭)
Thanks to a discounted three month trial, I spent my summer pouring through the Kindle Unlimited catalogue in search for a new book/series that would reawaken (or should that be rekindle?! Hahaha 😂🤣 *ahem* I'll see myself out now.) my passion for reading. While I did discover several books that I enjoyed immensely, it was THIS series that brought back the heart-rending, nail-biting, gut-wrenching, gotta-stay-up-all-night-to-finish feeling that I've been missing for years now.
One aspect I really appreciated during the second reading of the entire series was the foreshadowing from the very start. So many lines that seemed innocent or appeared to merely provide additional background information ended up carrying significant weight later on. Bravo, Annette Marie. 10 gold stars for you! (Just as an aside: based on what I've read from other reviewers, I am clearly not very astute since I did not piece together some of this earlier on. You know what? I am okay with that because it makes this entire work all the more amazing to me. And that's what matters.)
Is this the most profound piece of literature? Eh, not really. Was it exactly what I wanted/needed at the time? Absolutely!!!! Depending on your own preferences, this may not even be appealing to you. However, I feel the need to be extremely vocal about this series as it does NOT get the love or attention that it deserves. That is all. 💗
---------------------------------------------
Original Review: I just received an email from Goodreads with the title: “You finished Immortal Fire (Red Winter Trilogy, #3). What’s next?” ... What’s next?! What’s next is that I will slip quietly into the world beyond because I am emotionally spent and I don’t even know how to live anymore. I am going to need therapy after this.
THE FEELS ARE REAL. I admit that before I even started this series, I snickered a bit at all of these over-the-top “I’m dead” reviews. It is rare for me to experience external displays of emotion while reading, but with the Red Winter Trilogy, I squirmed (a LOT), chewed off my fingernails, and actually SOBBED on two different occasions. I can’t remember the last time (if ever) I cried over a book. Oh, the feelings are still there, but I hold them tightly to my heart and weep on the inside. This was NOT the case here. I physically hurt from the tension and emotional whiplash. I had to pause regularly just to recover from the intensity of it all.
Over the past week, I have known such beauty and heartache through this one trilogy. As I mentioned in my reviews of Red Winter and Dark Tempest, I loved the modern yet traditional setting and the integration of the Japanese mythology. (By the way, I have never read a book that covered SO MUCH of one culture over the course of approximately 1,000 pages - which seems like a lot, but it is NOT.) I ADORED EVERY SINGLE ONE of these characters with their unique desires, fears, strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Even the villains had arguably honorable motives. I loved having this level of complexity present in so many of the characters. The prose was amazing; the dialogue realistic - even humorous at times. The action sequences were so vividly described that it felt like watching a movie instead of reading a book. The romance was a satisfying slow burn that was everything I didn’t even know I wanted. I don't want to comment on anything specific because I don't want to have to hide this review due to spoilers. Instead, I want your curiosity to force you to check this out for yourself. You're welcome. 😎
Since I haven’t mentioned it in my previous reviews, the artwork featured throughout is absolutely GORGEOUS. While I don’t need pictures in order to create my own detailed imagery, I loved having these scattered throughout and wish this type of art was included in more stories.
Finally, HOW IS THIS SERIES NOT MORE POPULAR?
April 21, 2023
This series grips me in such a way I hardly ever experience. I rarely ever read anything back to back to back and yet, I flew through these in a matter of DAYS. the rollercoaster of emotions is giving me whiplash. Years after their initial release and these characters still have such a powerful grip on me. I have loved Annettes work for a long time now but this series. This one holds such a precious spot in my life.
you can read this review on my blog as well!
I've been holding off on this review for nearly a week now. It's not that I didn't like the book--I did, more than anything--it's just that... Reviewing it, or even trying, meant that it's actually over, as opposed to reading that final page. I don't know, maybe I'm being sentimental. But I just really love these characters. I know their story had to finish at some point. But it makes me incredibly sad that it finally is.
I don't want to give anything away about this book, but if you've read Red Winter and Dark Tempest, know that the events in this book happen nearly right after the events that concluded Dark Tempest, give or take a few days. And Annette Marie doesn't give them a break. I mean, yeah their time is running out and they've just had this huuuuge fight, but nope.
Things happen. And they're not very good things, as per usual.
I loved how high stakes-y this novel was. As a finale, there's a lot hanging in the balance and Marie definitely doesn't disappoint, not in the mention of character arcs, romantic arcs, or the overall plot. She never let things slow down and I never anticipated just exactly what would come next, which is most likely one of the main reasons I love her books so much! The writing, the action, the tension--it's hard not to keep reading and reading and reading, and the next thing you know, it's almost 2 AM. Or more.
From the get-go, I was sucked back into Emi's world, her concerns. She's really changed from the girl introduced in Red Winter, and I've really come to admire who she is now! She's definitely come a long way, and watching her experience these fights and feelings and everything in between was wonderful; Marie really did a great job with Emi.
Before I get to the other things, I just want to mention how I love Yumei. He just makes me so emotional, and I loved that he was a bit more present in this book! I mean, he was present in all three books, being part of the main group and all, but I feel that this final one brought him about in a new light various times and I loved it so much!
And then there's Shiro. He's changed a lot from the initial flirty fox Emi first encounters in Red Winter. A lot of things have happened to him, both during the series and waaaaay before. His memory is returning bit by bit, and it's understandably scary for Emi--him retrieving his memories means losing him as Shiro and sort of having someone else new where he was, kind of. I sympathised with Shiro so much throughout this novel! Both as him going through these circumstances and with his situation with Emi. They definitely didn't have it easy, but I liked the way Marie wrote out their story.
So that being said about him, let's just say I felt a lot of emotions about their romance. I absolutely loved it. I thought Marie did a great job balancing both the action and the romance in this book, seeing as Emi's feelings did play a huge part in it. This can be tricky sometimes because it usually leads the plot to be overtaken by the romance, but it doesn't feel like that here. Several things happen here, and all of them made me positively swoon.
The ending made me cry. I'm not even ashamed. I loved it, and it, in return, decided to hurt, but that's fine, everything's fine, even though it's not.
Okay, but seriously. The ending was great. I don't think anyone can expect it because it totally blew me away. I meant it when I said I cried--I was a mess. I completely get why Marie did what she did, and it was a very satisfying ending, one that was appropriate given the circumstances of the characters. And anyway, if you don't cry at least once, is it really a finale?
Overall, 5 stars. It deserves all of them and then some. It was a perfect ending and definitely worth the wait. This series will definitely remain a favourite of mine, I can't wait to see what else Annette Marie has in store!
---
Several things:
The cover is out. you can check it out on her facebook page (check the comments, someone's placed a link)
The publication date has changed. It's not coming out March 24th, but April 11th now.
And yes, the cover is purple. Day? Made.
---
Okay first of all I need this book and second of all I really hope the cover is purple?? It'd just fit perfectly with the series and aaaahhhh. I can't wait for thisss
you can read this review on my blog as well!
I've been holding off on this review for nearly a week now. It's not that I didn't like the book--I did, more than anything--it's just that... Reviewing it, or even trying, meant that it's actually over, as opposed to reading that final page. I don't know, maybe I'm being sentimental. But I just really love these characters. I know their story had to finish at some point. But it makes me incredibly sad that it finally is.
I don't want to give anything away about this book, but if you've read Red Winter and Dark Tempest, know that the events in this book happen nearly right after the events that concluded Dark Tempest, give or take a few days. And Annette Marie doesn't give them a break. I mean, yeah their time is running out and they've just had this huuuuge fight, but nope.
Things happen. And they're not very good things, as per usual.
I loved how high stakes-y this novel was. As a finale, there's a lot hanging in the balance and Marie definitely doesn't disappoint, not in the mention of character arcs, romantic arcs, or the overall plot. She never let things slow down and I never anticipated just exactly what would come next, which is most likely one of the main reasons I love her books so much! The writing, the action, the tension--it's hard not to keep reading and reading and reading, and the next thing you know, it's almost 2 AM. Or more.
From the get-go, I was sucked back into Emi's world, her concerns. She's really changed from the girl introduced in Red Winter, and I've really come to admire who she is now! She's definitely come a long way, and watching her experience these fights and feelings and everything in between was wonderful; Marie really did a great job with Emi.
Before I get to the other things, I just want to mention how I love Yumei. He just makes me so emotional, and I loved that he was a bit more present in this book! I mean, he was present in all three books, being part of the main group and all, but I feel that this final one brought him about in a new light various times and I loved it so much!
And then there's Shiro. He's changed a lot from the initial flirty fox Emi first encounters in Red Winter. A lot of things have happened to him, both during the series and waaaaay before. His memory is returning bit by bit, and it's understandably scary for Emi--him retrieving his memories means losing him as Shiro and sort of having someone else new where he was, kind of. I sympathised with Shiro so much throughout this novel! Both as him going through these circumstances and with his situation with Emi. They definitely didn't have it easy, but I liked the way Marie wrote out their story.
So that being said about him, let's just say I felt a lot of emotions about their romance. I absolutely loved it. I thought Marie did a great job balancing both the action and the romance in this book, seeing as Emi's feelings did play a huge part in it. This can be tricky sometimes because it usually leads the plot to be overtaken by the romance, but it doesn't feel like that here. Several things happen here, and all of them made me positively swoon.
The ending made me cry. I'm not even ashamed. I loved it, and it, in return, decided to hurt, but that's fine, everything's fine, even though it's not.
Okay, but seriously. The ending was great. I don't think anyone can expect it because it totally blew me away. I meant it when I said I cried--I was a mess. I completely get why Marie did what she did, and it was a very satisfying ending, one that was appropriate given the circumstances of the characters. And anyway, if you don't cry at least once, is it really a finale?
Overall, 5 stars. It deserves all of them and then some. It was a perfect ending and definitely worth the wait. This series will definitely remain a favourite of mine, I can't wait to see what else Annette Marie has in store!
---
Several things:
The cover is out. you can check it out on her facebook page (check the comments, someone's placed a link)
The publication date has changed. It's not coming out March 24th, but April 11th now.
And yes, the cover is purple. Day? Made.
---
Okay first of all I need this book and second of all I really hope the cover is purple?? It'd just fit perfectly with the series and aaaahhhh. I can't wait for thisss
May 8, 2019
I've been reading this series with a bated breath for almost a week and now that I've finished it, I do not know what to do next anymore.
I have to get my bearings before I got to write my review because I'm feeling of a lot of emotions and I was not ready to accept that this series have ended. Can I have an epilogue of the epilogue? Because that's what I need right now. I want to know more, I want to read more, I want to stay within their world for much longer.
It's a roller coaster of FEELS - that is what I'm going through, even after nearly a day after finishing the last book of the series. I admit that I had doubts when I read the first book but after reading this last one, I will forever treasure it as one of my favorite series. I am just so damn emotional right now.
There were a lot of conflicts within the plot of the series but the author was able to write their resolutions really well.
Purity and morality are not synonymous. Purity is born of pure intent, of faith and confidence in one's choices. When one acts with conviction, his ki will be pure and powerful, and that, kamigakari, is the source of all strength.
One of which is the conflict between Emi's purity and her love with Shiro. She had to maintain her makoto no kokoro in order for Amaterasu to descend to her and not destroy not only her mind and soul, but also the body in which the kami will descend, so Emi felt that being with Shiro - being intimate with him will tarnish her purity. Shiro was very understanding with what Emi was going through and he gave her space even though that is going against his instinct, and he made sure that Emi was sure of her decisions before acting.
"I would have kept you forever, little miko." His words were soft, almost soundless. "I would have taken you with me wherever the tides of time carried us, and I would have loved you until the very end."
Another conflict is Emi's mortality and Shiro's immortality. Even if they were able to survive the battle of the kami, Emi's life will be like a blink of an eye compared to the immortality of Shiro. This conflict was presented throughout the series, but was prominent at the end of the book. Again, Ms. Annette Marie was able to present a well-delivered resolution. Emi and Shiro's love was so potent and well-written - it's one of the best slow burn that I have read.
Emi x Shiro forever!
The climax destroyed me while the ending made me whole again - that is how I got through reading this series. I will forever recommend this hidden gem to those who loves to read about fantasy, adventure, and romance. And more people should know about the fantastical world of Japanese mythology.
I have to get my bearings before I got to write my review because I'm feeling of a lot of emotions and I was not ready to accept that this series have ended. Can I have an epilogue of the epilogue? Because that's what I need right now. I want to know more, I want to read more, I want to stay within their world for much longer.
It's a roller coaster of FEELS - that is what I'm going through, even after nearly a day after finishing the last book of the series. I admit that I had doubts when I read the first book but after reading this last one, I will forever treasure it as one of my favorite series. I am just so damn emotional right now.
There were a lot of conflicts within the plot of the series but the author was able to write their resolutions really well.
Purity and morality are not synonymous. Purity is born of pure intent, of faith and confidence in one's choices. When one acts with conviction, his ki will be pure and powerful, and that, kamigakari, is the source of all strength.
One of which is the conflict between Emi's purity and her love with Shiro. She had to maintain her makoto no kokoro in order for Amaterasu to descend to her and not destroy not only her mind and soul, but also the body in which the kami will descend, so Emi felt that being with Shiro - being intimate with him will tarnish her purity. Shiro was very understanding with what Emi was going through and he gave her space even though that is going against his instinct, and he made sure that Emi was sure of her decisions before acting.
"I would have kept you forever, little miko." His words were soft, almost soundless. "I would have taken you with me wherever the tides of time carried us, and I would have loved you until the very end."
Another conflict is Emi's mortality and Shiro's immortality. Even if they were able to survive the battle of the kami, Emi's life will be like a blink of an eye compared to the immortality of Shiro. This conflict was presented throughout the series, but was prominent at the end of the book. Again, Ms. Annette Marie was able to present a well-delivered resolution. Emi and Shiro's love was so potent and well-written - it's one of the best slow burn that I have read.
Emi x Shiro forever!
The climax destroyed me while the ending made me whole again - that is how I got through reading this series. I will forever recommend this hidden gem to those who loves to read about fantasy, adventure, and romance. And more people should know about the fantastical world of Japanese mythology.
April 25, 2020
WHY? WHY? WHY I CAN'T RATE 6 STARS???
♥♥♥MASTERPIECE!!!♥♥♥
*kisses kindle unlimited app*♥
This series guys!! An emotional rollercoaster!!!
I was crying, I was laughing, I was exclaiming "aw" I didn't want to put the book down, not even for eating, and believe me besides books I love food!! It takes a lot to take me away from food, but this series did the trick!!
Remember how I said that RED WINTER took some time to reach awesomeness, but eventually was great? Well, this book is a great culmination of so many emotional wheels set in motion in RED WINTER. I'm IN AWE!!!! Not many series are woven the way this trilogy was. So if you find RED WINTERslow-moving, DON'T YOU DARE NOT FINISH!!! The payoff is #3 IMMORTAL FIRE, I swear!!!!
I'm gonna spend a lot of time recommending this book to every single person of my friends list. Please guys treat my rec with care and respect, I poured my heart and soul into it and I only recommend books I think everyone will enjoy.
BTW...fans of Inuyasha, Kamisama Hajimemashita, and in general cool little mikos...
...there's cool stuff here for you guys.
You read it and don't like this series?WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? Ahem.... well I respect you, but sorry I don't understand you. Yeah, yeah, different opinions and such and such, but I'll probably BLACKLIST you.
*raises arms dramatically*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
*deep breaths*
I don't have a lot of friends IRL. Books have always been and will always be my friends. How you express about my favorites is REALLY important, CUZ my books mean a lot to me, they're BFF's!!! You speak idly of my friend, I'm blacklisting YOU 'cuz I'm that kind of gal. I already blocked two people who wrote excessively picky reviews. Like seriously? The finale is so emotional and you're hung up on counting words? I used my kindle app search and didn't find annoying repetition...at all!!! But even if I did, I don't care how many times a word is repeated, A STORY IS WHAT COUNTS, this book is GREAT. Amazing writing, lovely characters and what a emotional journey!! I wish there had been more sex but that's just me being ultra-nitpicky, this series will take you to the coolest journey ever.
I already ordered the paperbacks!!! Please read this book!!
♥♥♥MASTERPIECE!!!♥♥♥
*kisses kindle unlimited app*♥
This series guys!! An emotional rollercoaster!!!
I was crying, I was laughing, I was exclaiming "aw" I didn't want to put the book down, not even for eating, and believe me besides books I love food!! It takes a lot to take me away from food, but this series did the trick!!
Remember how I said that RED WINTER took some time to reach awesomeness, but eventually was great? Well, this book is a great culmination of so many emotional wheels set in motion in RED WINTER. I'm IN AWE!!!! Not many series are woven the way this trilogy was. So if you find RED WINTERslow-moving, DON'T YOU DARE NOT FINISH!!! The payoff is #3 IMMORTAL FIRE, I swear!!!!
I'm gonna spend a lot of time recommending this book to every single person of my friends list. Please guys treat my rec with care and respect, I poured my heart and soul into it and I only recommend books I think everyone will enjoy.
BTW...fans of Inuyasha, Kamisama Hajimemashita, and in general cool little mikos...
...there's cool stuff here for you guys.
You read it and don't like this series?
*raises arms dramatically*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
*deep breaths*
I don't have a lot of friends IRL. Books have always been and will always be my friends. How you express about my favorites is REALLY important, CUZ my books mean a lot to me, they're BFF's!!! You speak idly of my friend, I'm blacklisting YOU 'cuz I'm that kind of gal. I already blocked two people who wrote excessively picky reviews. Like seriously? The finale is so emotional and you're hung up on counting words? I used my kindle app search and didn't find annoying repetition...at all!!! But even if I did, I don't care how many times a word is repeated, A STORY IS WHAT COUNTS, this book is GREAT. Amazing writing, lovely characters and what a emotional journey!! I wish there had been more sex but that's just me being ultra-nitpicky, this series will take you to the coolest journey ever.
I already ordered the paperbacks!!! Please read this book!!
October 5, 2023
Star Rating: —> 5 [ life changing ] Stars !
💫⭐️💫⭐️💫
I truly cannot express just how much this book, this series, has meant to me. And I’m honestly not sure how to convey the specifics of what I’m feeling atm. I DO know, with certainty, that I will NEVER forget this trilogy. Ever. It has earned its place in my heart with the other all-time favorites. I am enamored with just... all of it. But Shiro & Emi, just... I love them so very much. Welp. Here come the tears again!
The FEELS! Oh, man, the feels.
Another thing...Oddly enough, I’m left with more fulfillment, and more of a sense of... acceptance... in seeing this story come to a close than I’ve felt in a series closer in a very long time. Of course I crave more but it’s... okay that there isn’t. It takes a talented writer to leave you with that sort of inner peace successfully.
I mean, that doesn’t mean I still don’t still feel the searing pain and the ache in my heart & soul that comes with anything coming to an end.... because I do. That’s putting it lightly. I kind of feel like I’ve set myself on damn fire atm. But yeah... I do feel the peace waiting for me once the inferno subsides.
Also, this quote/scene gets me Every. Damn. Time:
”Command me, Emi.”
YUM.
💛🔥💛🔥💛
If you’ll excuse me, guys, I’ve been crying for the past few hours straight so I’m going to go... do... something (start my next read presumably...) Distraction Time!
💫⭐️💫⭐️💫
I truly cannot express just how much this book, this series, has meant to me. And I’m honestly not sure how to convey the specifics of what I’m feeling atm. I DO know, with certainty, that I will NEVER forget this trilogy. Ever. It has earned its place in my heart with the other all-time favorites. I am enamored with just... all of it. But Shiro & Emi, just... I love them so very much. Welp. Here come the tears again!
The FEELS! Oh, man, the feels.
Another thing...Oddly enough, I’m left with more fulfillment, and more of a sense of... acceptance... in seeing this story come to a close than I’ve felt in a series closer in a very long time. Of course I crave more but it’s... okay that there isn’t. It takes a talented writer to leave you with that sort of inner peace successfully.
I mean, that doesn’t mean I still don’t still feel the searing pain and the ache in my heart & soul that comes with anything coming to an end.... because I do. That’s putting it lightly. I kind of feel like I’ve set myself on damn fire atm. But yeah... I do feel the peace waiting for me once the inferno subsides.
Also, this quote/scene gets me Every. Damn. Time:
”Command me, Emi.”
YUM.
💛🔥💛🔥💛
If you’ll excuse me, guys, I’ve been crying for the past few hours straight so I’m going to go... do... something (start my next read presumably...) Distraction Time!
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 12, 2024
Oh man, MY HEART.
I didn't review this the first time round (like I did with books one and two). So here I am, two years later, to tell you that nothing has changed and I still love this book and I would still give up everything I own to live inside it.
This review is just going to be an incoherent mess of me babbling that
1) I. LOVE. SHIRO.
2) Emi is a damn good heroine too.
3) The world Annette Marie has created here is absolutely stunning.
4) Her writing is beautiful - a perfect complement to the world.
5) There are moments where she reaches into my heart and drags it right out of my chest, that's how much I'm being overwhelmed by feels right now.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!! That's me expelling the massive tangle of emotions I feel upon completing my first reread of this gorgeous, unique trilogy. First reread - but not last. I look forward to revisiting Emi and Shiro regularly for the rest of my life.
I didn't review this the first time round (like I did with books one and two). So here I am, two years later, to tell you that nothing has changed and I still love this book and I would still give up everything I own to live inside it.
This review is just going to be an incoherent mess of me babbling that
1) I. LOVE. SHIRO.
2) Emi is a damn good heroine too.
3) The world Annette Marie has created here is absolutely stunning.
4) Her writing is beautiful - a perfect complement to the world.
5) There are moments where she reaches into my heart and drags it right out of my chest, that's how much I'm being overwhelmed by feels right now.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!! That's me expelling the massive tangle of emotions I feel upon completing my first reread of this gorgeous, unique trilogy. First reread - but not last. I look forward to revisiting Emi and Shiro regularly for the rest of my life.
December 13, 2024
Яка ж це прекрасна історія кохання 💞
April 7, 2017
Original Post: Immortal Fire at FLYLēF (www.flylef.com)
I’VE BEEN WAITING with bated breath for the release of Immortal Fire, the riveting finale to the enchanting romantic trilogy Red Winter. Once again I am left with a complete sense of awe by Annette Marie’s boundless imagination. She spins a rare magic—spellbinding readers with unforgettable characters, forbidden romance, electrifying action, and unforeseen twists—placing her among my most coveted of authors in fantasy fiction.
Lush and majestic, the sweeping Japanese world that I fell in love with continues to enchant me with its fantastical magic and supernatural creatures. Amatsukami (gods of the heaven) and Kunitsukami (gods of the earth), as well as myriad yokai and kami with (and without) integrity, become a central, story-driven force waging a shattering war that has been centuries in the making. This vivid world is further brought to life through ten beautiful narrative illustrations in black and white. It was a delightful, visual feast!
Emi and Shiro have come so far from when I started this series. Their character arcs never plateaued, but continue to bend with complexity and intricacy. I enjoyed witnessing Emi’s insecurity and fundamental beliefs as a kamigakari torn away, only to rebuild with true confidence and strength. Likewise, Shiro, once a broken and cursed yokai, had me rooting for him wholeheartedly as the ancient and immeasurably power inside him awakens.
The shameless flirting that has been so much fun to read continues. Shiro unabashedly teases Emi, and their stirring desires continue to grow into potent and deep affection. Yet, with a traitorous Amatsukami poised to destroy the world on the winter solstice, Emi must unite with the goddess Amaterasu to save those she loves—even if it means giving up her life—an ultimate sacrifice that is far too great for Shiro to accept now that she’s claimed his heart. Both tender and lacerating, Emi and Shiro’s romance unfurls with many soul-searing moments.
Far too soon, I am met with an meteoric ending that is nothing less than epic. Immortal Fire by Annette Marie is beautifully written with well-drawn characters, cinematic world-building, and high-stake twists. It is a riveting finale that simply demands a spin-off.
{Thank you Annette Marie and Dark Owl Fantasy for kindly giving me this book free of charge, which does not influence my review.}
January 26, 2020
reread 2020:
"I would forget everything else," he murmured, " as long as I didn't forget who I am with you. This is who I want to be".
Excuse me while I go cry about these characters for the rest of eternity because they make me feel so much.
-------
First read 2018:
How can I begin with this trilogy???
This last book, Immortal fire, crushed my soul and put it back together in less than 400 pages. I love everything about this book, and this story, and these characters. Plus, it has one of the best romances I've ever read in my life,. Shiro and Emi are just my OTP right now, and I can't get over how amazing and stunning this series was.
"I would forget everything else," he murmured, " as long as I didn't forget who I am with you. This is who I want to be".
Excuse me while I go cry about these characters for the rest of eternity because they make me feel so much.
-------
First read 2018:
How can I begin with this trilogy???
This last book, Immortal fire, crushed my soul and put it back together in less than 400 pages. I love everything about this book, and this story, and these characters. Plus, it has one of the best romances I've ever read in my life,. Shiro and Emi are just my OTP right now, and I can't get over how amazing and stunning this series was.
March 17, 2018
She didn’t allow herself to consider that her life would end in less than two days. Any soldier stepping into combat expected that day to be his last. This was no different.
My reaction to this book is almost similar to that of the last book. I flew through it, enjoyed the action, the banter, the character growth, and really despised the romance, the absence of urban world, the lack of female frienships, the brush off of secondary characters aka Katsuo and seethed t the stupidity of these gods.
I really loved how Emi developed in this book. All her life, she'd been taught to guard her purity against all evil, but in this book she discovered that inner purity is more then chastity. She's now more then ready to fight against anything that threatens the world. We saw Shiro discovering more of his past and more of the ancuent power hidden under his funny exterior moves out. Yumei and Emi friendship blossomed again and even though they have differences, they begin to fight together to save the world.
The world building is still amazing but then again, there is no sense of presence of an urban world. We're still travelling through forests and mountains and apart from slight mention of cars or people, there wasn't anything else present of the modern world.
I still hated how Emi brushed off Katsuo aside once he was out of picture. I needed more of their friendship but even though it was mentioned in the end that they become good friends, not much else happened between them. Nanakato become good friend with Emi, and I really liked thier friendship but then again, I didn't understand why Nanakato was rude to her in the first place?!?
And the final thing, which I didn't like at all was the romance. From the first book, I was rooting for Emi to look past her duties and think for herself and in the end she did discovered that to become powerful, she had to be in harmony with herself. I wanted her to tear all the boundaries placed on her and discover the world. Go out, make friends, have some goals, run wildly in the forest alone, whatever but she choses romance. Her ultimate goal was to be with Shiro. I mean, finding love is not a bad thing at all. And I like both of these characters so I definetly liked thier romantic interactions, but the thing is, they were too dependant on each other. I don't want my heroines to have someone love as an an ultimate goal in their life, I mean, that's harmful. That's too Romeo Julietish and I hate everything romeo juliet-ish.
Overall, it was a great series. I had so much fun reading it. The mythology was really great. But it didn't have that feminist spark that make me give some book more then 3 stars. But I really want to read Annette Marie's other series, and see how she creates new world.
November 13, 2017
"Do you promise?"
kill me now this is one of the best trilogies of all time and now i'm crying again
kill me now this is one of the best trilogies of all time and now i'm crying again
May 17, 2024
05/15/2024: Reread. (Audiobook!)
12/29/2022: Reread. (Audiobook!)
08/10/2020: Reread!
09/14/2018: Read again for the second time!
Oh, my bleeding heart hurts. It feels like Susano himself has been wreaking havoc upon my soul. Again, I am so happy that I reread this series. This series is so special and beautiful.
I am still so in awe of Annette Marie's unmatched storytelling. She hits every spot of the story with such vigor. Her ideas are so creative and her follow through with the story is flawless. The plot of the story is interesting and gripping. The world-building is beautiful, breathtaking, and profoundly complex. With this series, in particular, I love the way that Marie builds upon Japanese mythology to create her own fantasy world immersed in rich culture and diversity. Her storytelling brings the reader in, even if they have no connections to Japanese culture. She explains things in a way that leaves the reader fully knowledgeable but not overwhelmed. I love the way that the characters evolve and grow in this series. Especially Emi and Inari. By the end of the series, they have endured and changed so much while still keeping their original essence. I love the bonds that are formed throughout the series. Not only with the main characters, but with the side characters as well. I am glad that Marie chose to explain what happens with all of the side characters after the final events of the book. Getting to glimpse how things turned out for them was a nice touch. Overall, I am still completely shook right now. Again. I have no doubt that I will reread this series many more times over the years. This series has made a very special home in my heart. And like Emi and Shiro, I will never forget.
--------------------
This is one series finale that I've been anticipating for a while! I'm in that book hangover phase where I'm thinking, "ohgoditsoveritcantbeoverilovethesecharactersitcantbeover". Whew! I don't even know where to start, so let's start with...this series blew me away! Full on breathing problems, tears on my face, heart in a mess series finale.
Annette Marie really knows her stuff. She tells such magical stories. The reader gets wrapped up in her worlds and does not want to escape. The world expands even more in the third and final book in the Red Winter series. We get a deeper glimpse into the world of the kami and the yokai. Annette Marie's spin on Japanese mythology is riveting! The story that she has constructed is inspiring and without flaws. I love the original idea and the plot gets me excited every time I think about it.
The romance, oh my stars, the romance! It is killer. The romance is not love at first sight, it grows over time. It's a slow burn that ends with a bang. My heart was tortured while reading this, but it was so worth it! The romance is just so convincing and you are rooting for it through the entire series. It's the kind of romance that brings butterflies to your stomach, and then makes your chest heavy.
One of the reasons that the romance is so damn good is that Annette Marie has fine-tuned character development. She seriously knocks it out of the water. (Yeah, she's a pirate. She's that damn good!) The characters have personality, growth, and complexity. I loved all of the characters in this series. They were all so well written.
The prose is just beautiful. Annette Marie truly has a way with words. Her action and fight scenes are remarkable! I feel like I am right there with the characters witnessing the action myself. I can't appreciate that enough! Some authors are unfortunately not accomplished in this area, but Annette Marie hits the nail on the head.
The plot continued to amaze me in this book. There were still many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and I love that about a book. I hate predictability, so it's refreshing to be surprised. The plot ended up coming together just perfectly. I could see all the easter eggs from the first two books working their way to a close. The ending had me reeling, and I couldn't have loved it more. It was perfect.
Final thoughts...GO READ THIS SERIES! There, I said it. This series is flawless, and beautiful, and I assure you that it will earn a special place on the bookshelf inside your heart. I recommend this to all fantasy lovers and those that are into mythology, especially Japanese mythology. Annette Marie's take on it is definitely something to write home about. Also, I would highly recommend her Steel & Stone series!
More reviews on my blog: The Alchemy of Ink
12/29/2022: Reread. (Audiobook!)
08/10/2020: Reread!
09/14/2018: Read again for the second time!
Oh, my bleeding heart hurts. It feels like Susano himself has been wreaking havoc upon my soul. Again, I am so happy that I reread this series. This series is so special and beautiful.
I am still so in awe of Annette Marie's unmatched storytelling. She hits every spot of the story with such vigor. Her ideas are so creative and her follow through with the story is flawless. The plot of the story is interesting and gripping. The world-building is beautiful, breathtaking, and profoundly complex. With this series, in particular, I love the way that Marie builds upon Japanese mythology to create her own fantasy world immersed in rich culture and diversity. Her storytelling brings the reader in, even if they have no connections to Japanese culture. She explains things in a way that leaves the reader fully knowledgeable but not overwhelmed. I love the way that the characters evolve and grow in this series. Especially Emi and Inari. By the end of the series, they have endured and changed so much while still keeping their original essence. I love the bonds that are formed throughout the series. Not only with the main characters, but with the side characters as well. I am glad that Marie chose to explain what happens with all of the side characters after the final events of the book. Getting to glimpse how things turned out for them was a nice touch. Overall, I am still completely shook right now. Again. I have no doubt that I will reread this series many more times over the years. This series has made a very special home in my heart. And like Emi and Shiro, I will never forget.
--------------------
This is one series finale that I've been anticipating for a while! I'm in that book hangover phase where I'm thinking, "ohgoditsoveritcantbeoverilovethesecharactersitcantbeover". Whew! I don't even know where to start, so let's start with...this series blew me away! Full on breathing problems, tears on my face, heart in a mess series finale.
Annette Marie really knows her stuff. She tells such magical stories. The reader gets wrapped up in her worlds and does not want to escape. The world expands even more in the third and final book in the Red Winter series. We get a deeper glimpse into the world of the kami and the yokai. Annette Marie's spin on Japanese mythology is riveting! The story that she has constructed is inspiring and without flaws. I love the original idea and the plot gets me excited every time I think about it.
The romance, oh my stars, the romance! It is killer. The romance is not love at first sight, it grows over time. It's a slow burn that ends with a bang. My heart was tortured while reading this, but it was so worth it! The romance is just so convincing and you are rooting for it through the entire series. It's the kind of romance that brings butterflies to your stomach, and then makes your chest heavy.
One of the reasons that the romance is so damn good is that Annette Marie has fine-tuned character development. She seriously knocks it out of the water. (Yeah, she's a pirate. She's that damn good!) The characters have personality, growth, and complexity. I loved all of the characters in this series. They were all so well written.
The prose is just beautiful. Annette Marie truly has a way with words. Her action and fight scenes are remarkable! I feel like I am right there with the characters witnessing the action myself. I can't appreciate that enough! Some authors are unfortunately not accomplished in this area, but Annette Marie hits the nail on the head.
The plot continued to amaze me in this book. There were still many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and I love that about a book. I hate predictability, so it's refreshing to be surprised. The plot ended up coming together just perfectly. I could see all the easter eggs from the first two books working their way to a close. The ending had me reeling, and I couldn't have loved it more. It was perfect.
Final thoughts...GO READ THIS SERIES! There, I said it. This series is flawless, and beautiful, and I assure you that it will earn a special place on the bookshelf inside your heart. I recommend this to all fantasy lovers and those that are into mythology, especially Japanese mythology. Annette Marie's take on it is definitely something to write home about. Also, I would highly recommend her Steel & Stone series!
More reviews on my blog: The Alchemy of Ink
February 25, 2019
Prepare to be disappointed—not because the book sucks but because the series is over! *sobbing hysterically*
Annette Marie has managed to create yet another enchanting and intriguing installment to conclude this YA Fantasy series.
What I loved about the Red Winter series was Marie’s characters. I’ll admit, a lot of the Kunitsukami and Amatsukani share the same air of aristocracy and indignation, but the two that shine are Emi and Shiro. Both are strong, but in mirror opposing ways, their strengths so vastly different.
Emi, although sweet and inexperienced, is still very brave and contributes a lot of the power to the team. She doesn’t feel like the chosen-one trope though, despite being a human with immense power. From the start, you believe and understand her otherworldly connection, so when she uses her ki, it never feels unrealistic.
Emi makes decisions with her heart, not knowing if they’ll work or not, but not willing to do nothing.
Although this is a story about Gods, throughout most of the series, Marie manages to give Emi meaningful tasks that A.) don’t make her character come across as useless, and B.) don’t make her character seem ridiculously overpowered for a human. The power she does have, is clearly understood as being Amaterasu’s power, but even that she can’t tap into constantly. I liked that Emi was always a part of the big battles, but oftentimes wasn’t the one landing the pivotal blows—that would’ve been unrealistic for a human character fighting alongside Gods. .
Then there’s Shiro—or I guess if you’ve read the other books it’s safe to call him Inari now. Inari is mischievous and clever, with immense God-like power, and yet, I’d argue that he and Emi share equal strength. Where Emi is ruled by a love for all, Inari is compelled by a love for one (I’ll let you guess who).
There’s a beautiful symmetry between Emi and Inari that i’d been oblivious to until the final book: peaceful vs. destructive, celebrated vs. hated, famous vs. isolated, calmness vs. fury, naive vs. wise. This is another trope well-executed: the powerful God that falls for the normal human. As their love blooms, you never doubt why it budded in the first place. They complete each other in a way that only they can. Inari shows Emi what it’s like to become independent and Emi shows Inari what it’s like to love.
Ironically, although this series is about balance, it brought only the opposite to my life. I’m over here forgetting to eat, sleep and use the bathroom, just to lose myself to the world and characters of Red Winter!
Another character who has touched my heart is Yumei. Yumei is like the most overpowered not-God ever. He can transform into a raven, teleport, regenerate, come back from the dead, command shadows, talk to animals—what CAN’T this guy do?! More importantly, how is he not the most powerful member of their team!?! It’s fine, I don’t actually need him to be, because I enjoyed him for his disgust of humans, his dark backstory, and his stand offish nature.
Throughout the series, I’ve also failed to mention the beautiful way Marie describes the world around Emi. ”Rice paper walls were painted with beautiful mountain scenery, and polished wood accented the bold colors. Everything in the room was as sophisticated and elegant as Yumei’s long-ago palace. She walked across the fine tatami mats, grateful for the clean, soft tabi socks on her feet. She was finally warm again. And clean. And dressed in a simple, comfortable miko uniform.” They’re simple but invoking, and they leave no doubt in the mind of the locations Emi & co. have visited throughout the series.
This entire series, I had been wondering how Marie was going to address Emi’s biggest conflict ever—Amaterasu’s final descension—and without giving anything away, I can say I was not disappointed. Strong finish to such a strong a lovable series.
Annette Marie has managed to create yet another enchanting and intriguing installment to conclude this YA Fantasy series.
What I loved about the Red Winter series was Marie’s characters. I’ll admit, a lot of the Kunitsukami and Amatsukani share the same air of aristocracy and indignation, but the two that shine are Emi and Shiro. Both are strong, but in mirror opposing ways, their strengths so vastly different.
Emi, although sweet and inexperienced, is still very brave and contributes a lot of the power to the team. She doesn’t feel like the chosen-one trope though, despite being a human with immense power. From the start, you believe and understand her otherworldly connection, so when she uses her ki, it never feels unrealistic.
Emi makes decisions with her heart, not knowing if they’ll work or not, but not willing to do nothing.
Although this is a story about Gods, throughout most of the series, Marie manages to give Emi meaningful tasks that A.) don’t make her character come across as useless, and B.) don’t make her character seem ridiculously overpowered for a human. The power she does have, is clearly understood as being Amaterasu’s power, but even that she can’t tap into constantly. I liked that Emi was always a part of the big battles, but oftentimes wasn’t the one landing the pivotal blows—that would’ve been unrealistic for a human character fighting alongside Gods. .
Then there’s Shiro—or I guess if you’ve read the other books it’s safe to call him Inari now. Inari is mischievous and clever, with immense God-like power, and yet, I’d argue that he and Emi share equal strength. Where Emi is ruled by a love for all, Inari is compelled by a love for one (I’ll let you guess who).
There’s a beautiful symmetry between Emi and Inari that i’d been oblivious to until the final book: peaceful vs. destructive, celebrated vs. hated, famous vs. isolated, calmness vs. fury, naive vs. wise. This is another trope well-executed: the powerful God that falls for the normal human. As their love blooms, you never doubt why it budded in the first place. They complete each other in a way that only they can. Inari shows Emi what it’s like to become independent and Emi shows Inari what it’s like to love.
Ironically, although this series is about balance, it brought only the opposite to my life. I’m over here forgetting to eat, sleep and use the bathroom, just to lose myself to the world and characters of Red Winter!
Another character who has touched my heart is Yumei. Yumei is like the most overpowered not-God ever. He can transform into a raven, teleport, regenerate, come back from the dead, command shadows, talk to animals—what CAN’T this guy do?! More importantly, how is he not the most powerful member of their team!?! It’s fine, I don’t actually need him to be, because I enjoyed him for his disgust of humans, his dark backstory, and his stand offish nature.
Throughout the series, I’ve also failed to mention the beautiful way Marie describes the world around Emi. ”Rice paper walls were painted with beautiful mountain scenery, and polished wood accented the bold colors. Everything in the room was as sophisticated and elegant as Yumei’s long-ago palace. She walked across the fine tatami mats, grateful for the clean, soft tabi socks on her feet. She was finally warm again. And clean. And dressed in a simple, comfortable miko uniform.” They’re simple but invoking, and they leave no doubt in the mind of the locations Emi & co. have visited throughout the series.
This entire series, I had been wondering how Marie was going to address Emi’s biggest conflict ever—Amaterasu’s final descension—and without giving anything away, I can say I was not disappointed. Strong finish to such a strong a lovable series.
June 24, 2025
If you take the things I disliked in Dark Tempest and multiply them to make up most of the book, you get the disappointing sequel and series ending that is Immortal Fire. It's all here: the dramatic, overinflated romance, the weird changes to the actual mythology, and the lack of urgency to anything.
"And what if he is condemning himself to centuries of unrelenting grief out of ignorance because he cannot remember what it is to love as an immortal?"
Some might find this dramatic eternal love romantic, but to me, it's not. At all. Yes, they can be sad, but there is a difference between grief and fanfiction-like angst. Also, this is Shinto, which doesn't take itself half as seriously as this book makes it seem. The first book presented yokai as actual tricksters, the second book was balancing delicately on the edge, but with this book I can safely say that it's the book version of a bad shoujo manga.
Also this:
“As for reclaiming Nuboko from Izanagi, the sun god is the only opponent in any of the worlds that I am unwilling to challenge. He cannot be defeated. To battle him is to battle the power of the sun.”
“What magic could a Prince of Shadows call upon to defeat the sun god?”
“His closeness comforted her as she prayed they could reach Yumei before Izanagi. If the Prince of Shadows met the sun god in battle, there could only be one victor.”
“His attention was fixed on Izanagi. Dragon and raven launched at the sun god and power exploded in a cyclone of shadows and lightning.”
Well, I suppose if Amaterasu is the goddess of wind here, Izanagi will have to take the sun god spot. But why? Why is Izanagi the sun god??
Then, the kunitsukami and amatsukami somewhat devolved into a kami version of the power rangers. Combine that with some badly written fight scenes, and all the awe and fear the kami/yokai should inspire is gone. Maybe it's just me, but I felt there was a lack of hierarchy between them, and the yokai side was far more developed than the kami side - leaving the shikigami unexplained and the various kami they battled as faceless small-fry villains.
"It spiraled outward, swamping the room and engulfing the slain daitengu's body. Yumei flinched back, retreating to the nearest balcony. As the inferno devoured the room and black smoke boiled beneath the ceiling, ribbons of black power spiraled out from his shoulder blades [...].
Too many spirals. Way too many spirals, dear editors.
This brings me to the final two aspects of the book that disappointed me: the writing and the plot. The writing was fairly simple in the prequels too; however, it was not as much of a problem there as in this installment, which featured more bad action scenes, more word repetition, and more awkward conversations. The action scenes were not exciting in any of the books, but the plot behind them at least made them interesting. Past tense because the plot fell through in this book.
The final fight was a mess - nameless, faceless characters battling and dying while the main characters are safe but useless. Emi and Shiro's date got more of a description than the planning for the most important event in the book. Granted, that's because we only see Emi's POV, but that was a rather poor writing decision. And the most disappointing part was the way Emi's sacrifice on the solstice played out. The solution to a goddess' descent, which wasn't even necessary at that point, was a ridiculous cop-out. I don't have any words for it besides, "Well, that happened."
So in the end, I liked some parts of this book, but they were unfortunately overshadowed by all the bad parts. The only remnant of Emi's badassery was the escape from Tsukiyomi, and the only memorable scene was Yumei being drawn into Tsuchi and Emi saving him, as well as their talk at the end of the book. Aside from that, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as its prequels and it's a shame that a series that started out so promising and different from the usual YA ended with a generic whimper. 1.5 stars
"And what if he is condemning himself to centuries of unrelenting grief out of ignorance because he cannot remember what it is to love as an immortal?"
Some might find this dramatic eternal love romantic, but to me, it's not. At all. Yes, they can be sad, but there is a difference between grief and fanfiction-like angst. Also, this is Shinto, which doesn't take itself half as seriously as this book makes it seem. The first book presented yokai as actual tricksters, the second book was balancing delicately on the edge, but with this book I can safely say that it's the book version of a bad shoujo manga.
Also this:
“As for reclaiming Nuboko from Izanagi, the sun god is the only opponent in any of the worlds that I am unwilling to challenge. He cannot be defeated. To battle him is to battle the power of the sun.”
“What magic could a Prince of Shadows call upon to defeat the sun god?”
“His closeness comforted her as she prayed they could reach Yumei before Izanagi. If the Prince of Shadows met the sun god in battle, there could only be one victor.”
“His attention was fixed on Izanagi. Dragon and raven launched at the sun god and power exploded in a cyclone of shadows and lightning.”
Well, I suppose if Amaterasu is the goddess of wind here, Izanagi will have to take the sun god spot. But why? Why is Izanagi the sun god??
Then, the kunitsukami and amatsukami somewhat devolved into a kami version of the power rangers. Combine that with some badly written fight scenes, and all the awe and fear the kami/yokai should inspire is gone. Maybe it's just me, but I felt there was a lack of hierarchy between them, and the yokai side was far more developed than the kami side - leaving the shikigami unexplained and the various kami they battled as faceless small-fry villains.
"It spiraled outward, swamping the room and engulfing the slain daitengu's body. Yumei flinched back, retreating to the nearest balcony. As the inferno devoured the room and black smoke boiled beneath the ceiling, ribbons of black power spiraled out from his shoulder blades [...].
Too many spirals. Way too many spirals, dear editors.
This brings me to the final two aspects of the book that disappointed me: the writing and the plot. The writing was fairly simple in the prequels too; however, it was not as much of a problem there as in this installment, which featured more bad action scenes, more word repetition, and more awkward conversations. The action scenes were not exciting in any of the books, but the plot behind them at least made them interesting. Past tense because the plot fell through in this book.
The final fight was a mess - nameless, faceless characters battling and dying while the main characters are safe but useless. Emi and Shiro's date got more of a description than the planning for the most important event in the book. Granted, that's because we only see Emi's POV, but that was a rather poor writing decision. And the most disappointing part was the way Emi's sacrifice on the solstice played out. The solution to a goddess' descent, which wasn't even necessary at that point, was a ridiculous cop-out. I don't have any words for it besides, "Well, that happened."
So in the end, I liked some parts of this book, but they were unfortunately overshadowed by all the bad parts. The only remnant of Emi's badassery was the escape from Tsukiyomi, and the only memorable scene was Yumei being drawn into Tsuchi and Emi saving him, as well as their talk at the end of the book. Aside from that, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as its prequels and it's a shame that a series that started out so promising and different from the usual YA ended with a generic whimper. 1.5 stars
August 7, 2022
This is my review of the series.
It was full of action, engrossing, and engaging. There was never a dull moment; you will not be bored.
The world-building was phenomenal; rich with history and detailed geography, and the magic system and its rules of play on-point. But, most of all, I fell in love with Emi and Shiro. Through the highs and lows, I was rooting for them. An immortal and a human in love had disaster written all over it, but that didn’t stop me.
It was a great series. I enjoyed it very much. Four stars
It was full of action, engrossing, and engaging. There was never a dull moment; you will not be bored.
The world-building was phenomenal; rich with history and detailed geography, and the magic system and its rules of play on-point. But, most of all, I fell in love with Emi and Shiro. Through the highs and lows, I was rooting for them. An immortal and a human in love had disaster written all over it, but that didn’t stop me.
It was a great series. I enjoyed it very much. Four stars
February 2, 2025
Це було прекрасно, як і вся трилогія
June 10, 2023
#1.) Red Winter: ★★★★★
#2.) Dark Tempest: ★★★★
#3.) Immortal Fire: ★★★★★
This is one of the best young adult series if you're looking for a light, entertaining fantasy adventure with believable elements of Japanese mythology and one of the sweetest romances ever.
On one hand, this series wasn't the best or most emotionally powerful thing I've ever read but on the other hand, it was a delightfully charming story of Japanese mythology, light adventure, romance, and fantasy. The series had me rapt with suspense, emotional from Emi's struggle with martyrdom, and heart aching from the sweet tenderness that was Emi and Shiro.
THE GOOD
1) Emi both undergoes tremendous character growth while still remaining true to self at the same time. Physically and personality wise, she's essentially the same meek, docile Emi...and we don't get enough main female characters like that. Kick ass female assassin are terrific but I like that this series shows that being meek and timid doesn't mean Emi lacks courage, loyalty, steel will, and incredible heart.
A huge focus of this book is the realization that at the end, she will die. She has less than two weeks to live. Rather than begrudge her sacrifice all day, it's only in private, raw moments like this that Emi lowers her guard and allows grief and regret to sink in. The rest of the time, she bravely faces her inevitable and looming death. What a brave, determined girl.
2) I liked Shiro best in this book. For one thing, I like that he still manages to take second stage to Emi -- he never outstages her and everything we know about him we learn through Emi's interactions with him or through his contemporaries. Another reason I liked Shiro best in this book was because he was a good foil for the Emi from Red Winter. That book's Emi was frightened and sheltered, resigned to her fate, and misguided by her belief in her goddess. This Shiro challenges those beliefs and exposes her to the possibilities of what her life could be if she chose her own fate.
3) T'was a good end to the series. It didn't go the direction I thought it was going to go and I didn't absolutely love it...but it was appropriate, given what we know about the characters.
THE BAD
1) Is it possible to give this a lukewarm five stars? It's definitely five stars, but it's not a wow-factor five stars like one would normally think of for five stars.
2) Is this considered manga? If so, it's still a bit strange to me. People running around with fox ears, antler ears, and tiger tails? I can't stop picturing giant Pokémon running around. Still kinda weird. Maybe it'll grow on me.
THE VERDICT
This series is delightful. The action adventure is perfectly adventurey. The Japanese mythology/manga is thick and convincing and fantasy-like. The romance is healthy, sensual, and flirtatious. The stakes here are big-picture, high fantasy-like, and convincing.
Yes, I would recommend and I am open to reading more of Annette Marie's works.
#2.) Dark Tempest: ★★★★
#3.) Immortal Fire: ★★★★★
This is one of the best young adult series if you're looking for a light, entertaining fantasy adventure with believable elements of Japanese mythology and one of the sweetest romances ever.
On one hand, this series wasn't the best or most emotionally powerful thing I've ever read but on the other hand, it was a delightfully charming story of Japanese mythology, light adventure, romance, and fantasy. The series had me rapt with suspense, emotional from Emi's struggle with martyrdom, and heart aching from the sweet tenderness that was Emi and Shiro.
THE GOOD
1) Emi both undergoes tremendous character growth while still remaining true to self at the same time. Physically and personality wise, she's essentially the same meek, docile Emi...and we don't get enough main female characters like that. Kick ass female assassin are terrific but I like that this series shows that being meek and timid doesn't mean Emi lacks courage, loyalty, steel will, and incredible heart.
Shiro’s arms constricted around her, and only then did she realize her chest was heaving with the silent effort to contain her sobs. Tears streaked her cheeks, cold against her skin.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped, swallowing back her tears. “I just … They—they do another fireworks display after the solstice, b-but I … I won’t …” A sob caught in her throat and she hunched her shoulders to hide her tears, struggling to push the grief and dread back down into her core.
A huge focus of this book is the realization that at the end, she will die. She has less than two weeks to live. Rather than begrudge her sacrifice all day, it's only in private, raw moments like this that Emi lowers her guard and allows grief and regret to sink in. The rest of the time, she bravely faces her inevitable and looming death. What a brave, determined girl.
She didn’t allow herself to consider that her life would end in less than two days. Any soldier stepping into combat expected that day to be his last. This was no different.
2) I liked Shiro best in this book. For one thing, I like that he still manages to take second stage to Emi -- he never outstages her and everything we know about him we learn through Emi's interactions with him or through his contemporaries. Another reason I liked Shiro best in this book was because he was a good foil for the Emi from Red Winter. That book's Emi was frightened and sheltered, resigned to her fate, and misguided by her belief in her goddess. This Shiro challenges those beliefs and exposes her to the possibilities of what her life could be if she chose her own fate.
3) T'was a good end to the series. It didn't go the direction I thought it was going to go and I didn't absolutely love it...but it was appropriate, given what we know about the characters.
THE BAD
1) Is it possible to give this a lukewarm five stars? It's definitely five stars, but it's not a wow-factor five stars like one would normally think of for five stars.
2) Is this considered manga? If so, it's still a bit strange to me. People running around with fox ears, antler ears, and tiger tails? I can't stop picturing giant Pokémon running around. Still kinda weird. Maybe it'll grow on me.
THE VERDICT
This series is delightful. The action adventure is perfectly adventurey. The Japanese mythology/manga is thick and convincing and fantasy-like. The romance is healthy, sensual, and flirtatious. The stakes here are big-picture, high fantasy-like, and convincing.
Yes, I would recommend and I am open to reading more of Annette Marie's works.
August 10, 2017
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
In the final installment of the Red Winter trilogy Emi is closer than ever to the solstice when her immortal goddess Amaterasu will descend and take over her human body. She only has a few short weeks to find the last Kunitsukami and come up with a plan to protect the world from the immortal goddess Izanami and her powerful immortal brother Izanagi. As Yumei and her yokai allies gather more troops she and Shiro have to face the fact they will not be able to be together...
I fell in love with Red Winter and I came to adore Dark Tempest, but would Emi and Shiro's tale end in an epic way? Yes, yes, yes! I knew that I was in for the best ride of my life when this book did not suffer from the same drag, sag and lag opening as the first two books. Openings in this trilogy have consistently been a problem but not this time...!
We meet more yokai than ever before and I love how integral to the plot they continue to be. The kanashibari was such a smart idea to give us information we needed to understand Shiro and Yumei better without it being one long story told in dialogue. Choices like this one elevated what one would say is "just your typical supernatural romance" - there is nothing typical about it!
I've been a fan of this world from the beginning but this time around we get to see what a privilege Emi had to be able to interact with such beings; to love them, befriend them and support them. In other yokai centered stories there is little explanation why people consider them a myth nowadays if they still exist, this story has those answers and they are bittersweet!
The plot was quite good. I loved the beginning with Tsukiyomi and the introduction of shikigami added a lovely evolution to the yokai and Kunitsukami. Emi's ideals as a kamigakari are threatened here. It is more than just being unpure due to her relationship with Shiro and about what it really means to be committed and true to yourself. This arc continues to challenge Emi when even Shiro is affected by her idea of purity. The balance of personal arc and romance arc was spot on. As Emi grows her relationship with Shiro grows deeper. It is quite a beautiful thing.
Also Shiro knows what kind of lover he wants to be and he remains true to that idea in all situations. We don't get your traditional character arc for Shiro because this isn't a multiple POV book but we can peer into the yokai and see what he believes and see him trying to respect Emi's beliefs even when they wound him deeply. And Emi respects that Shiro is a super powerful GOD who is going to come to her rescue at times but will also fight back to back with him to save the world. This kind of mutual respect for the roles they play in life is what all lover relationships need in books today.
I want to say that this book becomes softer in the middle but it doesn't really. The pace is kept quick and the battles balanced with the intimate scenes between Shiro and Emi. I think though what I'm feeling is that the softer scenes shine just as bright as the battle scenes. The moments between the two of them caused you to ship Emi and Shiro in the first two books but in this book you really feel they have become a couple.
The plot is deceptively simple but the action keeps coming at you. There is a lull at the 50ish% mark that continues to around the 70ish% mark. It isn't that nothing happens or that it is dull or boring but they are preparing for the final battle. I actually loved these scenes of camaraderie and friendship. The friendship between Yumei and Emi is quite beautiful in this book and definitely more pronounced than the other two books. It actually becomes an anchor for her that without she may have suffered greatly without.
The other plot thing that I found intriguing was the looong ending. It's cut up into parts but it was so intriguing how the end opened up like an onion layer by layer and when you think you know where the end is going you are surprised by another twist and turn. I loved that Emi was not on the sidelines for this god and goddess filled battle. I also appreciated the scenes where the gods worked together as a group to take down their biggest foe. There was development for all the characters to shine! Emi's end as the kamigakari was terribly intriguing and not what I expected from the hints and foreshadowing, luckily the end didn't stop there. It felt a backwards way to end it but not wrong.
The cover is beautiful and like the other ones suck you in due to the atmosphere they imbue the blurb. I'm not sure they totally fit to tell you what the book is about but they speak about the series as a whole. I perhaps love the title most of all. It is rather one of those romance ripper titles but really when you read the book you go, oh yes this title is perfect! The interior manga/ graphic novel pictures do add to the story. There were a few missing in the arc and I felt their loss keenly. I do wish though in shots of Shiro that his face markings were represented - this bugged me in each picture I saw of him.
Perhaps the thing that excites me the most is that the author's storycraft has improved immeasurably in the final installment. I so look forward to what she comes up with next! (Please say Yumei spin off!)
As a series I so enjoyed each book of it and how they got better and better.
BOTTOM LINE: A satisfying ending to Emi and Shiro's yokai and immortal goddess story.
Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and Dark Owl Fantasy for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
In the final installment of the Red Winter trilogy Emi is closer than ever to the solstice when her immortal goddess Amaterasu will descend and take over her human body. She only has a few short weeks to find the last Kunitsukami and come up with a plan to protect the world from the immortal goddess Izanami and her powerful immortal brother Izanagi. As Yumei and her yokai allies gather more troops she and Shiro have to face the fact they will not be able to be together...
I fell in love with Red Winter and I came to adore Dark Tempest, but would Emi and Shiro's tale end in an epic way? Yes, yes, yes! I knew that I was in for the best ride of my life when this book did not suffer from the same drag, sag and lag opening as the first two books. Openings in this trilogy have consistently been a problem but not this time...!
We meet more yokai than ever before and I love how integral to the plot they continue to be. The kanashibari was such a smart idea to give us information we needed to understand Shiro and Yumei better without it being one long story told in dialogue. Choices like this one elevated what one would say is "just your typical supernatural romance" - there is nothing typical about it!
I've been a fan of this world from the beginning but this time around we get to see what a privilege Emi had to be able to interact with such beings; to love them, befriend them and support them. In other yokai centered stories there is little explanation why people consider them a myth nowadays if they still exist, this story has those answers and they are bittersweet!
The plot was quite good. I loved the beginning with Tsukiyomi and the introduction of shikigami added a lovely evolution to the yokai and Kunitsukami. Emi's ideals as a kamigakari are threatened here. It is more than just being unpure due to her relationship with Shiro and about what it really means to be committed and true to yourself. This arc continues to challenge Emi when even Shiro is affected by her idea of purity. The balance of personal arc and romance arc was spot on. As Emi grows her relationship with Shiro grows deeper. It is quite a beautiful thing.
“Purity and morality are not synonymous. Purity is born of pure intent, of faith and confidence in one’s choices. When one acts with conviction, his ki will be pure and powerful, and that, kamigakari, is the source of all strength.”
Also Shiro knows what kind of lover he wants to be and he remains true to that idea in all situations. We don't get your traditional character arc for Shiro because this isn't a multiple POV book but we can peer into the yokai and see what he believes and see him trying to respect Emi's beliefs even when they wound him deeply. And Emi respects that Shiro is a super powerful GOD who is going to come to her rescue at times but will also fight back to back with him to save the world. This kind of mutual respect for the roles they play in life is what all lover relationships need in books today.
I want to say that this book becomes softer in the middle but it doesn't really. The pace is kept quick and the battles balanced with the intimate scenes between Shiro and Emi. I think though what I'm feeling is that the softer scenes shine just as bright as the battle scenes. The moments between the two of them caused you to ship Emi and Shiro in the first two books but in this book you really feel they have become a couple.
The plot is deceptively simple but the action keeps coming at you. There is a lull at the 50ish% mark that continues to around the 70ish% mark. It isn't that nothing happens or that it is dull or boring but they are preparing for the final battle. I actually loved these scenes of camaraderie and friendship. The friendship between Yumei and Emi is quite beautiful in this book and definitely more pronounced than the other two books. It actually becomes an anchor for her that without she may have suffered greatly without.
The other plot thing that I found intriguing was the looong ending. It's cut up into parts but it was so intriguing how the end opened up like an onion layer by layer and when you think you know where the end is going you are surprised by another twist and turn. I loved that Emi was not on the sidelines for this god and goddess filled battle. I also appreciated the scenes where the gods worked together as a group to take down their biggest foe. There was development for all the characters to shine! Emi's end as the kamigakari was terribly intriguing and not what I expected from the hints and foreshadowing, luckily the end didn't stop there. It felt a backwards way to end it but not wrong.
The cover is beautiful and like the other ones suck you in due to the atmosphere they imbue the blurb. I'm not sure they totally fit to tell you what the book is about but they speak about the series as a whole. I perhaps love the title most of all. It is rather one of those romance ripper titles but really when you read the book you go, oh yes this title is perfect! The interior manga/ graphic novel pictures do add to the story. There were a few missing in the arc and I felt their loss keenly. I do wish though in shots of Shiro that his face markings were represented - this bugged me in each picture I saw of him.
Perhaps the thing that excites me the most is that the author's storycraft has improved immeasurably in the final installment. I so look forward to what she comes up with next! (Please say Yumei spin off!)
As a series I so enjoyed each book of it and how they got better and better.
BOTTOM LINE: A satisfying ending to Emi and Shiro's yokai and immortal goddess story.
Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and Dark Owl Fantasy for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
December 31, 2019
It is over and I do not want to be over!
This last book in the Red Winter Trilogy was full of excitement and tears. I am now finished with this trilogy and part of me want more, especially of Shiro.
The characters and their development was brilliant and I love all of them even the villain Izanami was likable and I loved that the author explained her reasons behind her actions. I liked the description of the nature scenes but also the battle scenes. Loved how the characters matured along the way and I totally loved Yumei's evolution.
In my heart Shiro and Emi's relationship will live forever and to make a parallel with Maas's series the romance was brilliant presented and their development was what make me like their relationship. I honestly saw Rhys in Shiro but compared to him, Shiro actually was described humanly and his love for Emi was demonstrated through his sacrifices.
Do not want to be mean but I have to wonder how did Maas's series fantasy won when this series beat her fairly with the elements that Marie presented to us in this trilogy.
Guys this is a hidden gem that is pure awesome and filled with a mature romance as well as characters that will remain memorable.
This last book in the Red Winter Trilogy was full of excitement and tears. I am now finished with this trilogy and part of me want more, especially of Shiro.
The characters and their development was brilliant and I love all of them even the villain Izanami was likable and I loved that the author explained her reasons behind her actions. I liked the description of the nature scenes but also the battle scenes. Loved how the characters matured along the way and I totally loved Yumei's evolution.
In my heart Shiro and Emi's relationship will live forever and to make a parallel with Maas's series the romance was brilliant presented and their development was what make me like their relationship. I honestly saw Rhys in Shiro but compared to him, Shiro actually was described humanly and his love for Emi was demonstrated through his sacrifices.
Do not want to be mean but I have to wonder how did Maas's series fantasy won when this series beat her fairly with the elements that Marie presented to us in this trilogy.
Guys this is a hidden gem that is pure awesome and filled with a mature romance as well as characters that will remain memorable.
April 12, 2022
THIS COULDN'T HAVE HAD A BETTER ENDING THAN THIS! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME AND GIVE THIS SERIES A CHANCE, IT FUCKING DESERVES IT!!!!
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