Dead of Winter: Arcana Chronicles, Book 3 by Kresley Cole
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Summary
Evie Green is the Empress. And she's been taken by Death, one of the most fearsome among the Tarot. But there is an even more dangerous Tarot heading for them, The Lovers. Two twisted siblings who use cruelty and torture on allies and enemies alike. Evie, Death and Jack band together to find and kill The Lovers, but tensions arise when Jack witnesses the bond Death and Evie have developed.
I was under the impression that this would be the conclusion, but it seems I was mistaken. Kresley, you did an amazing job with this book! I was completely engrossed and couldn't put it down. It was absolutely fantastic, and now I feel a sense of sadness as I have to patiently await the release of the next installment once again.
I absolutely love this series! It's a bummer that we have to wait so long for the next installment. I've checked, and it doesn't seem like the next book will be released as an audiobook. This is really disappointing because my son is visually impaired, and we enjoy listening to the series together.
This is the third installment of the Arcana Chronicles, which currently consists of four books with a fifth one, The Dark Calling, set to be released in spring 2017. The series is planned to have a total of six books. Dead of Winter is a highly captivating and fast-paced book, although I found myself struggling with the excessive focus on the love triangle between Evie, Jack, and Death. On the other hand, I did enjoy the interactions with the other Tarot Cards.
In this story, Evie and her group primarily focus on defeating The Lovers. A significant amount of time is dedicated to showcasing the intense animosity between Death and Jack, as they constantly vie for Evie's attention. Unfortunately, this emphasis on the love triangle overshadows the development of the story and world.
I must address the love triangle as it plays a major role in the plot. I simply cannot comprehend why Evie would want to be with Jack. He consistently undermines her abilities and tries to keep her in the background under the guise of protection. Jack consistently underestimates Evie and hinders her growth and independence. Additionally, he repeatedly lies to her, which is a huge red flag for any relationship.
Death, on the other hand, encourages Evie to explore her capabilities and supports her in becoming stronger. While he did employ some coercive tactics in the second book, he was honest about it. Someone as strong as Evie needs a partner who can match her strength and is unafraid to call her out when she complains. Death will guide Evie towards her own path and destiny, rather than smothering her with overprotectiveness. So, yes, I am in favor of Death.
Considering the above, Evie's decisions throughout this book truly disgusted me. By the end, I found myself mostly disliking Evie. For a supposed "special" and "powerful" female protagonist, she displayed a surprising amount of stupidity.
I am currently undecided about whether or not I will continue reading the next book in the series. I am drawn to the concept of Tarot Cards as teenage characters with unique powers and I am eager to meet more of them. Additionally, I was intrigued by the introduction of The Emperor towards the end of this book, as he sounds fascinating. However, my intense dislike for Evie and her romantic issues may hinder my enjoyment of the series moving forward.
It appears that the love triangle may not be a prominent aspect in the next book, or at least that is what I hope for. However, I suspect that it will resurface and cause further complications.
Overall, Dead of Winter was an engaging read, although it suffered from an excessive amount of love triangle drama. I am unlikely to continue reading the next full book in the series due to my frustration with Evie. However, I have already purchased Day Zero and plan on reading that collection of stories.
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