April 2025 First in a Series BOTM - A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos

[Jamie]

Long ago, following a cataclysm called “The Rupture,” the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands. Known now as Arks, each has developed in distinct ways; each seems to possess its own unique relationship to time, such that nowadays vastly different worlds exist, together but apart. And over all of the Arks the spirit of an omnipotent ancestor abides.

Ophelia lives on Anima, an ark where objects have souls. Beneath her worn scarf and thick glasses, the young girl hides the ability to read and communicate with the souls of objects, and the power to travel through mirrors. Her peaceful existence on the Ark of Anima is disrupted when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, from the powerful Dragon clan. Ophelia must leave her family and follow her fiancée to the floating capital on the distant Ark of the Pole. Why has she been chosen? Why must she hide her true identity? Though she doesn’t know it yet, she has become a pawn in a deadly plot.

**This BOTM thread will be open until May 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Melany]

Chapter The Kitchen

(view spoiler)[I'm not really sure I feel about this book yet I think the world's interesting with the mirror traveling and stuff I feel like a lot of the stuff hasn't being really well explained but I'm intrigued to learn more.

I feel bad for Ophelia, Mr Thorne does kind of feel like an asshole and Ophelia Thorne is a terrible name poor girl (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Starting this now!

[Alaina]

Up to The Medal: (view spoiler)[This is rather interesting, lol. Some things that are happening are pretty cool - like the tailoring without scissors or whatever happened. I was also pretty hesitant to like Thorn in the beginning. He's just such an ass, and I feel bad for Ophelia. I also don't like her mom or sister either. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Melany wrote: "Chapter The Kitchen ..."

Are you listening or reading it? I'm listening. At one point I felt like I was zoning out, but nope. It's interesting for sure. I also feel bad for Ophelia.

[Alaina]

Up to The Sister: (view spoiler)[I just feel confused now. I'm pretty sure at one point, between The Medal and now, Ophelia was described as strong but too shy. How can she be both exactly? Maybe my brain is too tired to comprehend it right now. I'm also not a fan of Thorn or really Ophelia right now. Though I was proud of her for escaping the house and walking around town. I don't think I would like being locked in one place. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Up to The Visit: (view spoiler)[Well, the characters are still interesting. The Child chapter was weird, and the child was kind of creepy. I just don't have a particular favorite person at the moment. Am I supposed to trust anyone yet? Or like anyone? lol (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Up to Trust: (view spoiler)[FINALLY THEY ARE TALKING! Also, good for Ophelia calling him out. How dare he? Yes, she may have trusted the wrong person, but why was she the nicest one out of all of them?!?! I mean, sure, that was probably the biggest red flag ever, but DETAILS. I'm just happy that they are talking.

Let's just see if Thorn will do what he said he was going to. (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Alaina wrote: "Melany wrote: "Chapter The Kitchen ..."

Are you listening or reading it? I'm listening. At one point I felt like I was zoning out, but nope. It's interesting for sure. I also feel bad for Ophelia."

I'm both reading and listening and still having a hard time following

[Alaina]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Hmm... I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this. Like, a lot happened towards the end of this book... but I just don't know. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Melany wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Melany wrote: "Chapter The Kitchen ..."

Are you listening or reading it? I'm listening. At one point I felt like I was zoning out, but nope. It's interesting for sure. I also feel b..."

I definitely did too!

[Melany]

The Dragon

(view spoiler)[it's so weird that they're like the only ones with servants and I can't wait to learn more about the weird court politics where murders brought up like the weather (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

The Getaway

(view spoiler)[This girl is in real danger also like I kind of thought this was young adult this doesn't feel like young adult. With just casually deflowering a girl at a spite I don't like the ambassador he was really creepy part of me thinks he saw right through Ophelia's lie and just decided to roll with it (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Melany wrote: "The Dragon

[spoilers removed]"

LOL right? It's so bizarre

[Alaina]

Melany wrote: "The Getaway

[spoilers removed]"

He is sooooooooooo creepy! I was also kind of surprised this was YA while listening.

[Melany]

Alaina wrote: "Melany wrote: "The Getaway

[spoilers removed]"

He is sooooooooooo creepy! I was also kind of surprised this was YA while listening."

I hope he doesn't come back but I know he will

[Alaina]

[Melany]

Mime

(view spoiler)[she is so screwed of course the creepy guy comes from the family where they can like instantly share everything at all times oh my god that makes him so much creepier.

I'm happy that Thorne is finally being nicer to her but I hate that his aunt turned on her and has been such a bitch I understand she's upset because she's being taken away from her like precious lover God or whatever. Everyone in the story is so mean (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

The Treasury

(view spoiler)[I can kind of see how thorn might have a crush on her because she's so different than he thought she'd be because she's not as much of a pushover as she seems but I'm on Ophelia's side That's not fair for him to catch feelings with all the shit his aunt is put her through (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Finished. This book was so messy. Do you plan on reading the other books in the series?

(view spoiler)[I want to read the rest of books of the series because I really want to know what is happening. I want to know what the deal with Knight is, how is this child so cruel and crazy and powerful. I want to know what happened to the world. Despite the fact that I don't like any of the characters I want to know what happens (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Melany wrote: "Finished. This book was so messy. Do you plan on reading the other books in the series?

[spoilers removed]"

I probably will if I can get the audiobooks on hoopla or libby. I also agree with you; I want to know but I'm also not dropping other books to find out. If I come across them, then I might dive into them.

[Ellen-Arwen]

Melany wrote: "Chapter The Kitchen

I'm not really sure I feel about this book yet I think the world's interesting with the mirror traveling and stuff I feel like a lot of the stuff hasn't being really well expl..."

Starting this BOTM late as ever lol. I tried to read it about three years ago when someone at my local indie store raved about it, so I bought it but couldn't get into it...

(view spoiler)[ I'm feeling a bit more invested this time round, but it's still kind of... messy so far? If that makes sense? I think this was the problem I had before - I wonder if it's the translation or the story... (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Alaina wrote: "Up to The Medal: [spoilers removed]"

Up to the Medal (view spoiler)[ Yup, her whole family are pretty horrible tbh! I liked this chapter with seeing more fully how her powers work. I do like the magic system, that's something this certainly has going for it! And Ophelia is pitiable, yes, but also not that likeable somehow? (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Melany wrote: "The Dragon

[spoilers removed]"

The Dragon (view spoiler)[ haha, yes, bringing up murder like the weather, that about sums up this court, right? Still quite slow though... Maybe just me?? (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Alaina wrote: "Up to The Sister: [spoilers removed]"

The Sister (It's even confusing how to work out where to stop and make comments in this book lol)

(view spoiler)[ YES! Exactly! I mean, I know characters can develop but, well, she hasn't. This is just inconsistencies. She's all shy and meek and 'retiring' (to a really stupid degree, I mean, the tiny little voice thing is really beginning to annoy me tbh), and then she suddenly she's STRONG. And then back to how she was. Changeable characters are fine WHEN IT MAKES SENSE.

I wonder if the author has ASD to some degree? I'm not being derogatory or mucking around, I just mean that I don't feel she really understand how people 'work'. Or is that the point?

Also not a fan of Thorn or Ophelia (I had to check what her name was lol) either. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Melany wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Melany wrote: "Chapter The Kitchen ..."

Are you listening or reading it? I'm listening. At one point I felt like I was zoning out, but nope. It's interesting for sure. I also feel b..."

I don't think I could listen to this one - I'd be SO confused. Reading it, and still bamboozled... But I got further than I did last time round, so at least I can say to the person who recommended it to me that I have actually read it (or maybe I'm speaking too soon :P It's VERY unlike to DNF, this is a rare book that I've come back to after having read some of it... Hopefully, I'll just push on through, but it's not really enjoyable tbh.

[Ellen-Arwen]

Melany wrote: "Mime .."

At Clairedelune - a Proper break! It's confusing to know when to stop in this book (view spoiler)[Yup, she's so screwed but I really couldn't care less right now. This book is BORING me. I think it's the writing because the set up should be exciting, and I should be feeling all the things you said in your bit, but I'm just like... okay, yeah, when will this be over?
You're right - they're all absolutely horribly mean to each other, and no one is sympathetic, but I'm not even sympathetic to Ophelia because she's so passive after one little act of rebellion. Gah, I feel like a mean person lol. (hide spoiler)]

Seriously, I just want this book to be over already. Hopefully the deadline to get BOTM points will make me finish it quicker lol.

[Ellen-Arwen]

Melany wrote: "The Treasury

[spoilers removed]"

(end of) The Treasury (view spoiler)[ Okay, I'm actually getting into this now - and feeling VERY sorry for Ophelia, but also pleased she's almost told Thorn where to go :P Him falling in love with her is a bit of a surprise, but, SERIOUSLY, he needs to do one. After everything that's happening at the Clairdelune and he's just like, 'carry on as before'?? WTF? He is just... argh. At least I'm feeling more invested now, mainly because I'm angry! (hide spoiler)]

Okay, feeling better about this book overall - I do genuinely want to know what happens, but it is still quite a slog to read.

[Ellen-Arwen]

Melany wrote: "Finished. This book was so messy. Do you plan on reading the other books in the series?

[spoilers removed]"


Finished also. I agree it was messy, but at least I was invested by about two thirds of the way through lol (view spoiler)[ DEFINITELY want to know what the Knight is all about and what happens next! But it was a slog... VERY complicated! I wasn't sure who I trusted or who Ophelia trusted or anything a lot of the time! (hide spoiler)]

Are you going to carry on with the others? For me it's the same as Alaina, I will if I can get them from the library but I won't buy them... let me know if/when you want to while I go investigate :)

[Melany]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Melany wrote: "Finished. This book was so messy. Do you plan on reading the other books in the series?

[spoilers removed]"


Finished also. I agree it was messy, but at least I was invested by ab..."
Yeah I was going to continue them I have the second book from the Library

[Ellen-Arwen]

Melany wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Melany wrote: "Finished. This book was so messy. Do you plan on reading the other books in the series?

[spoilers removed]"


Finished also. I agree it was messy, but at least ..."

Ooh, they don't have it on online library and the library wasn't open today (bank holiday in England), and our library isn't open on Tuesdays BUT I will go and look on Wednesday :) Cool!

[Melany]

Ok if you can get it we can buddy ready it :)