The Winter Duke

By: Claire Eliza Bartlett

Narrated by: Chloe Cannon

Ekata’s family is in trouble, and since she survived the curse, she must survive the throne - but first she needs to find out how to save the people she loves.

All Ekata wants is to stay alive - and the chance to prove herself as a scholar. Once Ekata's brother is finally named heir to the dukedom of Kylma Above, there will be nothing to keep her at home with her murderous family. Not her books or her experiments, not her family's icy castle atop a frozen lake, not even the tantalizingly close Kylma Below, a mesmerizing underwater kingdom that provides her family with magic. But just as escape is within reach, her parents and 12 siblings fall under a strange sleeping sickness, and no one can find a cure.

In the space of a single night, Ekata inherits the title of duke, her brother's captivating warrior bride, and ever-encroaching challengers from without - and within - her ministry. Nothing has prepared Ekata for diplomacy, for war, for love...or for a crown she has never wanted. If Kylma Above is to survive, Ekata must seize her family's magic and power. And if Ekata is to survive, she must quickly decide how she will wield them both.

The Winter Duke is an enchanted tale of intrigue by Claire Eliza Bartlett, author of the acclaimed young-adult fantasy novel We Rule the Night.

©2020 Claire Eliza Bartlett (P)2020 Little, Brown Young Readers

Critic reviews

"The intrigue begins unfolding immediately and draws readers through to the last page.... Fresh and filled with magic and personality. An enchanting queer fairy tale." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Thrillingly atmospheric.... Sympathetic characters, assured prose, and crystalline imagery make this icy dukedom memorable even after the last page has been turned." (BCCB)

"The twist-filled mystery and compelling characters will keep readers guessing and the unexpected but satisfying conclusion will delight those who long for emotional realism within a fantastical story. Refreshing and unique story elements abound in this magic-filled political mystery." (SLJ)

lovely

I really enjoyed this story, the author has a good sense of humor and does a great job.

Good book

I loved the voice of the narrator and the story flowed well. The main character is a bit hard to get use to at first and the love interest is easy to like right away. I enjoyed the the story and twists and turns of the book

Great coming of age story!

The story of a young woman thrust into an unusual position of power she never wanted and how she discovers how to use the strengths she has to navigate an unfamiliar world! It’s so great to see stories with strong, complex and confident women!

Problematic story structure & bad main character

There are a lot of issues with this book that caused me to not enjoy it. The story structure and the main character are extremely frustrating. The only enjoyable character in the book is the love interest.

Unfortunately, the story is setup in such a way that the main character has to spend 80% of the book being downright awful to the love interest. If Joffrey and Sansa's romance was your favorite part of game of thrones, you'll love this story.

The story structure was unfortunately disappointing too. The story just resolves itself at the end because the characters decide to end the story. I think the book assumes its audience lacks critical thinking. I can go on and on, but I hope you get the picture. Save your money.

No idea how this book is rated so highly.