The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

Title: To Ride the Wind: A Retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Series: A Four Kingdoms Duology #1

Author: Melanie Cellier

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling, Clean Romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:

Charlotte has always longed to be accepted by her older sisters. She would gladly exchange her vaunted beauty for their friendship. But they ask a far higher price. Pushed into marriage with a stranger, Charlotte is left betrayed and alone. All she knows of her new husband is that he has secrets—and that her heart beats a little faster whenever he calls her Lottie.

Princess Gwendolyn’s people are different—that’s why they dwell high in the mountains, far from all other kingdoms. So she’s shocked when she discovers her mother plans to marry her by force to a stranger from outside their lands. And when she uncovers the full truth, she knows the queen’s scheming has gone too far. Gwen must intervene before her mother’s destructive touch blights the entire world. If only there was someone who could help her. But the boy who was Gwen’s only true friend has long since disappeared, and she’d do anything to find him. But her mother has made that impossible. – summary from Goodreads

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The reviews for this book haven’t been terrible, but they haven’t been the best either. And The Abandoned Princess was such a perfect ending to the world, that I went into this thinking it was going to be just okay! I loved it! It is such an amazing book, with wonderful characters and storyline. It is still connected to the other books, so I do think it is beneficial to have read the other books before I started this one.

Gwen was a wonderful main character! I truly enjoyed watching her grow into a strong character! Gwen started out as a very submissive and scared person, and slowly throughout the book she became stronger and more assured. I especially liked how this wasn’t linear and she didn’t become a new person overnight. Gwen also had a little bit of PTSD, and I liked the inclusion of this and the way it was done. Gwen really fights to learn what is going on in her life and I am very excited to see where her story goes!

Charlotte was such a lovely main character. I liked her parts of the story a little more than Gwen’s, but I still love Gwen. Charlotte was very sweet, and I loved her growth throughout the book. She has a complicated relationship with her family and is always trying to make her family like her. Throughout the book she realizes that she doesn’t have to do that, and she can make her own family and find people who actually want her. I really loved how determined she was. She wasn’t ridiculously stubborn, or anything just determined at anything she put her mind to. I really enjoyed that side of the story.

Charlotte and Henry were so cute together! Definitely one of my favorite couples! They were so sweet and wholesome and took care of each other and became each other’s family! I loved the protection they showed for each other too. They both had a solid backstory as well, and I loved how that weaved into their story. Magic and curses also played such a big part of their story. I liked how it was incorporated and the ways it affected the story. There wasn’t quite love at first sight, but there was a strong connection between the two immediately. I will say I love Henry, how caring he is of Charlotte and how he makes sure she is comfortable. I especially love the way that he didn’t blame Charolette for anything that happens at the end of the book.

This was a very different setting than any other in this world. It was also the one that wasn’t even hinted at in any of the other books. I found this mountain kingdom very interesting, though is it just comprised of the one city or are there more? The magic system in this world is also very intriguing. Despite not being the most familiar with this tale, I actually really love it. I find it so fascinating and I love how Cellier weaved it into the magic system that has been built up over the past twenty books! I will say the rules following the curse and magic was a little confusing, but I still enjoyed it. The godmothers also made an appearance! I have missed seeing them the past couple of books, so it was nice seeing them make an appearance.

Easton and his story are so intriguing to me, and I am excited to see more of him in the next book. He was invoked many times throughout the story, but we really only get to see him the last twenty pages or so. Those twenty pages, he did make an impression though!

This is the only one of Cellier’s books that is dual POV and split into two books. I think this fairytale is one that works the best split into two. I also think it works better with a dual POV- the dual POV allowed us to explore the two different sides of the story that happen.

The only other retelling of this I have read is Snow Bound by C.J. Brightley. I really liked that book, especially the family dynamics present. I do think that this book better explored the complexities of the story. In Snow Bound I loved the relationship between the prince and his friend, and this book explored that, though it was gender-swapped!

To Ride the Wind was a wonderful dual POV retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon, that follows Charlotte as she enters into a marriage with a cursed bear and Princess Gwen who is determined to solve the mysteries surrounding her kingdom. With clean romance, adventure, curses, and new kingdoms this book is a wonderful addition to the Four Kingdoms world!

Quotes:

“‘You are right and just, Anger. But you cannot serve me in this moment. I still have life and breathe and work to sustain myself. That is what I must focus on in this moment.”