Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Red Winter (Red Winter Trilogy #1) by Annette Marie

A New Series from Amazon Best-Selling Author Annette Marie, RED WINTER is coming…

“Soon all her human fears would become meaningless. Her future had been written by the kami, and her destiny awaited her.”

In the enchanting new fantasy RED WINTER by Annette Marie, Emi Kimura has been preparing her entire life to become the mortal host of a goddess. When she discovers the lies surrounding her true fate, she makes a dangerous bargain with a fox spirit to seek out the truth. As her final days as a mortal approach, she must choose whether to bow to duty ... or fight for her life.

Title: Red Winter
Series: Red Winter Trilogy #1
Author: Annette Marie
Publisher: Dark Owl Fantasy Inc.
Publication Date: October 21, 2016
Pages: 324
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: ARC

In a few short months, Emi's mortal life will end when she becomes the human host of an immortal goddess. Carefully hidden from those who would destroy her, she has prepared her mind, body, and soul to unite with the goddess—and not once has she doubted her chosen fate.

Shiro is a spirit of the earth and an enemy of the goddess Emi will soon host. Mystery shrouds his every move and his ruby eyes shine with cunning she can’t match and dares not trust. But she saved his life, and until his debt is paid, he is hers to command—whether she wants him or not.

On the day they meet, everything Emi believes comes undone, swept away like snow upon the winter wind. For the first time, she wants to change her fate—but how can she erase a destiny already wrought in stone? Against the power of the gods, Shiro is her only hope … and hope is all she has left.

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I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author.

I have been waiting for this book all year! Annette Marie's Steel & Stone series is one of my all-time favorite series! Once I finished the series I was in serious book hangover for the longest time. I have been counting down the days for her new release, and it was well worth the wait!

One of the things that I have come to expect and love from Annette Marie is phenomenal world building. She weaves an intricate world with layers upon layers of details. Her worlds are masterfully envisioned, and she has a magic touch that brings them to life in indescribable ways. The amount of time that goes into her planning must be immense.

I am going to be honest and say that my initial feeling about the first thirty percent of the book was that it was rather boring. I think that at first I was a bad reader because I fell into a nasty habit of comparing this book to another. Annette Marie's Steel & Stone series starts off with immediate action that just keeps on going, and this one not so much. It doesn't make it bad, but it is what it is. I definitely need to clear my mind and not immediately judge a book by something else the author has written. The last half of the book is full of action. While there isn't much action in the beginning of the book, there is an enormous amount of character development.

On that note, we really get to know the main character, Emi, and her inner workings. I really liked experiencing her struggle with her. She was a greatly admirable character. She felt bound to her duty as an Amagakari, but she also felt a great loss for the childhood she sacrificed and the experiences that she missed out on. She was quite sheltered most of her life, so she wasn't very timid and delicate. Even though she couldn't match the strength of others, she was bold enough to speak her mind. I very much enjoyed Shiro's character. He was mischievous and flat out adorable. I loved his development as well. Yumei is a character that I was unsure of at first, but he definitely grew on me. I am still unclear what his intentions are, but I am hoping that they are for the best.

One of the things that I like most about Annette Marie's books is her writing. The writing is so smooth and the words flow together flawlessly. The author has the writing gods on her side, because her writing is beyond compare. I cannot applaud her enough.

I loved the romance in this book. It was a little bit angsty, and a little bit sweet. The coming together of the two main characters was a pleasure to see unfold. I couldn't get enough.

Overall, another spectacular novel from Annette Marie! I just want to shout from the rooftops to all of you that you should read her books! I cannot contain my excitement for the next book in this series! I am so eager to find out what happens to Emi and Shiro, and to uncover all the mysteries from Red Winter. Pick this one up and give it a try! You will not regret that you did.

The yokai didn’t move, just held her in place with a strength she couldn’t fight. She tipped her head back to see his face, to gauge his intent. His gaze traveled across her room, intent and analyzing. Then his eyes flicked down and he appeared almost surprised to see her staring up at him. His mouth curved into a sly grin, flashing pointed canines.

His amusement at her terror sparked a tiny surge of anger. “Let me go!”

“Ah, little miko, didn’t anyone ever tell you not to run from yokai?” His deep, purring voice sent a shiver across her skin. He leaned down as his hand on her throat forced her head back. He brushed his nose along her jaw, from her chin up to her ear. “It’s the surest way to make us pounce,” he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.

Goose bumps raced down the back of her neck and she clenched her jaw. “Get your hands off me.”

He hummed as he pushed his face into her hair, inhaling through his nose. “But didn’t you put your hands on me first?”

“I was treating your wounds.” She summoned her most commanding tone, desperately hoping her voice wouldn’t quaver. “You’re proving that your kind’s reputation is well deserved with such disrespect and ingratitude toward the person who saved your life.”

His head came up and fear shot through her that she’d offended him, that he would surely kill her now. Instead, he made a thoughtful noise, and his hands fell away, releasing her.

She almost leaped out of his lap but remembered his comment about running from yokai. With more self-control than she’d thought she had, she carefully stood, walked four steps, and turned to face him. He stayed where he was, lounging on the bed with his feet on the floor, casually propped up on one arm. His head tilted to one side as he watched her, and that slight, knowing grin played about his lips.

She sank down to kneel on the floor, mostly because her legs were shaking so badly she was afraid he’d notice. As nonchalantly as possible, she slid her hands into the opposite sleeves of her kimono and pinched her hidden ofuda between two fingers, ready to pull the paper talismans out.

“No need for that, little miko,” he remarked, each word almost caressing her. How could he have such an otherworldly yet still human voice? “I will not harm you.”

She flushed, embarrassed she’d been so obvious, but didn’t let go of the ofuda. “What was that—that assault then?”

“Assault, you call it? That little embrace?”

“You—” She broke off with a small shake of her head. If he was determined to ignore the inappropriateness of forcefully holding a woman against him and rubbing his face on her, nothing she said would change his mind. “You have the manners of a dog.”

“What did you expect? The ritual greetings of the imperial court?”

“Some respect for the person who saved your life would have been welcome.”

“Ah, yes, you did save me, and I am very grateful.” He idly tugged at a lock of his hair as his gaze slid down her and back up again. “I am in your debt. Tell me your desire and I will fulfill it.”

“My—my desire?” she choked.

He smirked again. “A favor, little miko. I am saying I owe you a favor.”

Annette Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, which includes the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night. Her first love is fantasy, a limitless realm of creativity where she can break all the boring rules of real life, but fast-paced urban fantasy, bold heroines, and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She proudly admits she has a thing for dragons, and her editor has politely inquired as to whether she intends to include them in every book.

Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of northern Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad). She shares her life with her remarkably patient, comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

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