The Winter Queen

By Devin Cary

On his deathbed, Elissa's young husband names her as regent, the one to protect the kingdom of Albor until their five-year-old son comes of age. The dying king might truly have wanted Elissa to act as... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441006817
• ISBN13: 9780441006816
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Ace
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Leaves you wanting more!

The Winter Queen is an intriguing story with interesting characters with whom you can sympathize. The plot has some very interesting twists and the end leaves you hanging. I have not yet given up hope on a sequel! The Winter Queen does, however, need to be taken as a book that is setting the stage for a larger story that a sequel or two would more fully develop. I loved it even in itself. For those who enjoyed the Winter Queen, and even for those who didn't, I would recommend The Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce. There are also several other sets out that continue this series and introduce new characters equally as loveable.

Deathbed Wishes Honored at All Costs!

In a medieval world filled with tightly ruled patriarchal kingdoms, King Ethelred, in his last mortal words, whispers his wife Queen Elissa's name as heiress to the mantel of power until their youthful son can mature enough to ascend to his father's throne. And so erupts a firestorm of controversy in which Elissa must either sink of swim in her courageous efforts to rule or be devoured by a predatory school of sharks, male nobles of Ethelred's clan, all coveting his crown, or, using treachery to conquer his kingdom by discrediting the Queen. She chooses to swim, at a record breaking pace! Meeting the innumerable challenges and obstacles facing her rocky path to acceptance as a regent, Elissa rolls the dice and places total confidence in the one court member her husband trusted implicitly, Geoffrey. Forming a special bond with this married advisor who readily embraces the aspirations of widow Elissa to carry out her husband's final request, Geoffrey proves a rock of strength and savvy decision maker while the Queen wades through a steady stream of threats and conspiracies all aimed at removing her from the royal picture. Their relationship intensifies as Elissa attempts to juggle her busy schedule of being a working mother and ruling regent and somehow keeping those pesky sharks at bay. The Queen realizes early on that her striking beauty, charm and intelligence won't save the day for her. She needs to prove to the cynical and backbiting nobles that she belongs in this man's world of earned privilege and rank. In the process Geoffrey steers her toward an accelerated course of personal training that will turn this innocent, yet charismatic woman, into a battle hardened and streetwise noblewoman who can hold her own in battle against a veteran warrior. But Elissa is so much more than this. Blessed with the magical powers of being born into a family of mages, she uses this unpredictable gift in several adventures without fully understanding her unique potential to gain the advantage in the worst of circumstances. Her motherly devotion and love for her two children, Ethel and Edgar, are unconditional and thoughts of their future constantly drives her actions with greater intensity in finally winning over the legion of naysayers who formerly prayed for her failure. Geoffrey and Elissa seem destined to become kindred spirits and soulmates but author Cary provides a very creative and tantalizing conclusion to her story by thrusting Elissa into a mind boggling act of mystical selflessness that eliminates the Queen's main adversary while putting her in harm's way for what is sure to be a much awaited sequel by her captivated readership. Emotionally I felt totally spent after reading the last line of Devin Cary's fast paced book and definitely found myself wishing for more resolution regarding the fate of her chivalrous or villainous characters.

The Winter Queen - Beautiful but only part of the story

The Winter Queen Queen Elissa is named regent by her dying husband. She is not personally ambitious, but filled with the need to protect her young children's legacy, she becomes embroiled in a struggle for power in a court that does not believe in the capacity of a woman to rule. They are also deeply suspicious of "magic" and "witchery". Elissa comes from a more tolerant country - where such abilities are treasured and cultivated. The characters are extremely well-drawn. The elements of a great story are present - strong romantic interest and tension, political intrigue, etc. The central conflict "man vs. Society" or rather strong, gifted Queen vs. prejudices of the misogynistic court is well plotted. Then, instead of progressing to a more epic conclusion - concludes after a thinly plotted predictable failed coup d'etat from a very two dimensional enemy. I think that this is one more example where the sci-f- fantasy's publishers desire for PROFIT (trilogies, serials, etc. - why actually publish a complete book when you can get just as much for 1/3 of a book) cheats the reader of a fulfilling experience. The true great serialists (Tolkien, Frank Herbert) made each book a rich experience that could stand alone. I do look forward to the next installment in this series. Devin Cary has written PART of what appears to be a brave and lovely fantasy.

The Winter Queen, by Devin Cary

It is the vividly formed, three dimensional characters, along with the intricately formed and intertwined plot which makes 'The Winter Queen' such a winner. Students of the ancient teachings of Machiavelli will find many examples of his devious methods used by the Heroine of 'The Winter Queen', Elissa. If you like novels with strong women characters, or if you like novels where the line between good and evil is blurred, where the good are not all good, and the bad are not so terrible, then you will get as much of a kick out of this one as I did.