Dark Tempest by Annette Marie | Review

 5/5 Ribbons

Release date: January 6th 2017
Dark Tempest is the second book of the Red Winter Trilogy by Annette Marie. The review of the first book can be read here.

What can I say? I fell in love with this book, from head to toe. My breath was caught, I got goose bumps and my heart raced while I read this fantastic book. This is fantasy/romance at its finest. The feelings and characters felt extremely real and I felt with them through they perilous journey through Japan.

I think I mentioned it in the first review of this trilogy already, but I can’t stress the point that some of the things in the book were extremely realistic. Japanese religions are a fascinating thing for me since I study Japanology. I have read a few books which included Japanese culture and people and I can honestly say that this is one of the best depictions I have found out there.

Also, there is this connection to the past and myths with yokai (spirits) being present in this book. Usually, yokai are depicted as evil monsters ( like in the anime Inuyasha for example) but I really liked how the author described a world similar to the one humans live in. There are good and bad, honourable and greedy beings. What is also quite interesting is how myths and people were included from the Kojiki. The Kojiki is the oldest existing record of Japanese history and mythology.

Even though there weren’t a lot of plot twists, the story was extremely exciting and entertaining. The things Emi and her companions have to face were not only interesting to read, they also kept me on my toes. It was intriguing to read more about the plans of the Kamis (holy spirits, part of the Shinto religion). I loved the sceneries which were described and the character development of Emi. 

At the beginning of the first book, she was a shy, miserable and lonely girl who obeyed without question. Now she is a strong woman who can stand up to the powerful yokai around her. Even more so, she has found not only her strength and courage, but her own voice in Dark Tempest. I admired her resilience and her courage and I was glad that the character still managed to come off as real and not overly, unrealistically powerful.

Dark Tempest includes ten beautiful full-page illustrations by award-winning artist Brittany Jackson. I loved the illustrations and I wish there had been more of them. 

I wish I had gotten my hand on this one later on, so I could read the trilogy in one sitting. I only needed two days to finish the second book. Since then, only a day has passed but Shiro and Emi are in my mind constantly. 

Read this book! I know you’ll love it just as much as I did.

*I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This fact does no affect my judgement concerning this book.