Review: Dead of Winter (#3, Arcana Chronicles) by Kresley Cole

My Thoughts

The most exciting, chilling, action-packed
Arcana Chronicles book to date.

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Synopsis

Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.

Heartbreaking decisions
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, The Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.

Uncertain victory
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a frozen and perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on The Lovers and the vast army they command. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them once and for all may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

Two heroes returned
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first?

My Review

As first seen on USA Today’s HEA blog

Revenge, rescue, redemption and romance—the highly anticipated third book in The Arcana Chronicles, Dead of Winter, delivers all three in spades as this action-packed saga continues. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kresley Cole pens what may be the most intense and electrifying book in the series to date. The love triangle between Jack, Evie and Death scorches the pages and promises to confuse even the staunchest defender of either of these enigmatic men. In addition, the stakes in this deadly game have never been higher as alliances get tested and new enemies emerge.

“Love is the most destructive force in the universe.”

The story picks up shortly after Evie escapes from Death, racing the clock to rescue Jack from the Lovers’ terrifying vise. Violet and Vincent Milovnici are the story’s primary villains, a duo so cruel and frightening that they brought a more chilling quality to the story. The Lovers’ are ruthless, promising to love in their own way… a torture brutal to those who love another. Evie must strengthen and leverage her previous alliance, now fragile after staying willingly with Death (Aric) over the last few months. Plus, she must accept her powers fully, learning to both unleash and muzzle the all-powerful ‘Red Witch’ inside of her.

“Power was my burden. It weighed as much as a crown of stars.”

As Evie runs to save Jack, her feelings for him flood back in, creating a confusing swirl of emotion. Her heart is divided, between the man she loved first, and the man with whom she’s undeniably connected. It’s a choice between the unquenchable fire of first love and the endless connection with a soulmate. It’s figuring out if she can trust a man with so many secrets or love a man whose immortal intrigues would prove difficult beyond compare.

“One love fated. One love endless.”

And as the Lovers’ powers take hold and promise a harrowing retribution, the game calls for Death, Evie and Jack to work together for them to survive.

“Me, Jack, and Death on a mission. What could possibly go wrong?” 

Their journey is filled with non-stop action and barely bearable emotional tension. I felt for all three of our protagonists, all who have evolved much throughout the story. As a strong defender of ‘Team Death’ going into this third book, I can honestly say that both our heroes commanded my attention and I ended up ‘Team Confused’ by the story’s end. Much has changed with Jack since Evie left him, as he becomes an unexpected but brave leader, determined to walk alongside Evie until the very end.

“Your mine. And I’m yours. You’re goan to find your way back to us.”

We also see Death emerge from the eternal stasis of his own life, to engage in a way that Evie never anticipated as he vies passionately for her heart.

“… you must know that you have my love. It’s given, sievā. Wholly entrusted to you.”

Expect your affinities to waver, your heart to pound furiously, the game to escalate in ways that are surprising, thrilling and scary. This third book in The Arcana Chronicles is not to be missed.

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