Tales about fairies are often associated with childhood, even though most stories that feature the fey aren’t really for children. Modern fairies stories are, instead, about the loss of childhood. Not only the end of innocence, but that critical point in a person’s life in which they decide to become an adult.
Wintersong is a haunting story about growing up that just happens to feature a sexy and seductive Goblin King. Easily described as Labyrinth meets A Company of Wolves, Wintersong is set in 18th century Europe and follows the story of nineteen-year-old Liesl. The young lady has set aside her own hopes and dreams for the well-being of her rather anarchic family. Her sister is the pretty one and her brother the one with a chance at a promising career as a violinist. Liesl is the glue that holds the family together, the one who has surrendered herself to the everyday in order to ensure her siblings succeed.
Except, as a child, she has a very special friend. Despite the dire warnings of her Grandmother, she dallied with the Goblin Men as a child, and as her family finally begins to achieve its dreams, the Goblin King pulls it all away, simply by kidnapping Liesl’s sister. So of course, adventure beckons.
This, however, is a book of two halves. One is a fairytale adventure, the other a peculiar romance. The latter half is haunting and compelling, and also the sort of tragic romance that makes for movie trilogies and hordes of screaming fans (and also the type that endless essays are written about on social media). If you ever thought a Goblin King could be sexy (and anyone who’s seen Labyrinth would have to think that) then this for you.
It’s a very slow paced tale as well; mostly because it’s almost all build up. There’s a lot of talk about music and dance, and this works well as an over-arching metaphor. Good music takes years to truly appreciate and can both transform and transport us. Wintersong moves the reader to its own unique tune.
WINTERSONG / AUTHOR: S. JAE-JONES / PUBLISHER: TITAN BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: 7TH FEBRUARY 
