Wintersong

Goodreads Synopsis:    Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.

But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

My Thoughts:

-    I have mixed feelings about this one. 

-    I'm not a Labyrinth fan, but when I heard this was a Labyrinth retelling, it intrigued me. I find the movie boring and David Bowie has always kinda creeped me out. I was hoping this book would have a better story and a more swoon worthy Goblin King. I was disappointed. It was boring and the Goblin King was a creepo. 

-    The story wasn't just a twist on Labyrinth. There were elements of Beauty and the Beast plus Hades and Persephone.

-    The writing was beautiful, and I LOVE the musical influences in the story, but there wasn't much going on. Most of the book is a whole lot of nothing.

-    There were some typos that bugged me. Wrong pronouns were used and I thought the perspective switched, but no it was just a typo. It was confusing.

-    There were a few sensual parts that were a little uncomfortable for me. I don't mind sex scenes, but I don't need to know where hands are and what the male anatomy feels like.

-    The ending was kinda sad but in a good way. I have a lot of mixed feelings about it. I can't decide if I liked the ending or not.

-    In the end, I'm glad I read this, but I probably wouldn't pick it up again.