Witch Queen of Redwinter by Ed McDonaldMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Back Cover Blurb:
Having been saved from execution at the hands of the Draoihn – powerful magic users Raine used to count as allies – Raine finds herself in the Fault, a vast magical wasteland, which is falling apart before her eyes.
Alongside her two closest companions, they are searching for the only person Raine believes can help them get back home: the enigmatic and infuriatingly elusive Queen of Feathers.
But what home are they trying to get back to? Ovitus LacNaithe, power-hungry traitor that he is, has taken control of the Draoihn and is unwittingly doing the bidding of a darker master. He is soon to take control of the Crown of Harranir and plunge the land into unending darkness.
The fate of two worlds hangs in the balance. The stakes have never been higher. It's going to take Raine's dark, terrible powers, as well as the unbreakable bond of three friends, to ensure everyone lives to see the dawn.
Review:
As this is the final book in this trilogy I will attempt to avoid any specifics or delve into anything that could stray into possible spoiler territory. The Redwinter Chronicles has been a true breath of fresh air for me as a fantasy reader for a number of reasons. First is it doesn't follow the usual formula or pattern that we see so much of in the genre these days. Another reason is the magic system is so original and involved that it really makes you think about the limitless possibilities of just how imaginative these elements can ultimately be going forward. Ed McDonald's brain functions on a whole other level and it shows in pretty much everything he writes.
What's truly impressive about this trilogy, and I've said this before, is just how different in tone, theme, and characterization in comparison to McDonald's previous more grimdarky trilogy, Raven's Mark. It just shows how versatile and multi-faceted McDonald's writing is that he can't be pigeon-holed into one specific subgenre or style. Where Raven's Mark was fairly straightforward and brilliantly gritty, Redwinter is just as brilliant but in a more thoughtful and classic (almost high fantasy) sense. And I think part of the reason why I enjoyed this latest series all the more is because of this change in direction.
I've described Redwinter as a "slow burn" type of reading experience and I think that this description gets a bit of a bad rap and has an unjust negative connotation at times. Robin Hobb and Tad Williams books can also be categorized this way and yet they are arguably two of the best writers of fantasy ever and I adore their books. So yeah, don't be put off by my saying that at all, fantasy books don't always have to be full blown pedal to the metal and constant battle scenes from beginning to end.
That being said, Witch Queen of Redwinter does have its stunning moments of action, as you would expect from a concluding book in a series. This final book delivered on every single promise made in the previous two and once again I am in awe of the way McDonald weaves together all of the plots and makes you care about his characters in such a way that the investment is super real when the climactic conflict does eventually take place. Just another brilliant book and series that solidifies McDonald as a must-read author. I can't wait until his next release because I'm sure it will be something completely different but a smash hit nonetheless. His track record speaks for itself.
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