Check out on Goodreads | Buy on Amazon Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Seasons of the Storm #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Book Box, My shelves
One cold, crisp night, Jack Sommers was faced with a choice—live forever according to the ancient, magical rules of Gaia, or die.
Jack chose to live, and in exchange, he became a Winter—an immortal physical embodiment of the season on Earth. Every year, he must hunt the Season who comes before him. Summer kills Spring. Autumn kills Summer. Winter kills Autumn. And Spring kills Winter.
Jack and Fleur, a Winter and a Spring, fall for each other against all odds. To be together, they’ll have to escape the cycle that’s been forcing them apart. But their creator won’t let them go without a fight.
I wanted to like this one so much. I love the concept, it’s so unique and holds so much promise. But… ugh I was just terribly let down by this story and lack of concrete answers. For people who literally spend six+ months of the year training to murder each other, they were rather terrible/weak badasses. I really enjoyed the beginning, but as the story continued, I found more and more plot holes and inconsistencies with the characters and was done with the over-contrived “twists” and blasé attitude they had towards things that should matter. Not to mention, I never got a concrete answer to the central question of this book: What does it look like if flesh and blood embodied the concept of a season? It’s such an exciting concept!! And yet.
All these characters were pretty cool. Except Fleur. She’s the heroine, but even though this book is dual-perspective, I would be more inclined to classify her as the “love interest” over “the heroine.” Even when it was her POV, it was so clearly still Jack’s story. Even though she was the magically powerful one, she was so fragile and weepy, she let anything and everything push her around. I was annoyed with Jack feeling like he has to be the martyr to take everything on, but really that’s the culture she built. The end?? Pffft. I’m not interested in continuing, it’s so predictable I can already see the whole sequel timeline. Also I don’t think I care.
“We’re here, the four of us, together and alive, and the clouds above us part, making way for a sliver of sunlight”
It’s been like two weeks since I read this and many books in between, so I can’t get into everything. But I am just (still) incredibly disappointed by this. It had such a strong start, but ultimately fell apart because of a lack of chemistry between the two characters, and because of glaring inconsistencies/plot holes throughout. It would have been easy to build more of a history between Jack and Fleur. If they’d snuck around for a few years and left notes, had grand last-nights, or really had any kind of foundation to build this whole rebellion on. Instead, we just continually get told they’re in love, but I really was more invested in Julio and Amber’s relationship, because we got to see part of it develop.
I know what you’re thinking…. “But Kate, they couldn’t! They were kept separate and weren’t allowed to see each other.” To that I say, okay, fair point. That is what we were told. However, and this is one of those gaping plot holes I keep mentioning, Jack and Fleur both share a room with their handlers, they are roommates. And their handlers are able to video chat each other (and do many times). So… you’re telling me Jack and Fleur can’t pop on a video call or join their handlers on one 🤨🧐
I know I’m not the target audience here. I honestly can’t say if my most of my issues stem from setting more mature expectations on a YA book, but I think generally… no? But maybe a little. YA does love a destroy-and-save-the-world-for-instalove trope, after all. It’s all very Romeo and Juliet. But even with that… It did not live up to its potential.
Other books (but good) with elemental magic you may enjoy…
Have you read this book? What stories do you enjoy featuring elemental magic? Let me know in the comments down below, I’d love to hear from you!
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