Dead of Winter (Arcana Chronicles, #3)

by Kresley Cole

[Kelly]

http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/02/dead-of-winter-by-kresley-cole.html
I had assumed that Dead of Winter was the final book in the The Arcana Chronicles, but it wasn't until I reached the cliffhanger that I'd realised there's yet another book to come. Most readers have a guilty pleasure read, a series that featured the typically beautiful girl who had it all, the strong and slightly dimwitted love interest and the dashing and handsome third party that was determined to steal her away. Normally I'd keep my distance, but the premise of having a group of seemingly normal teens, all representing a card in an ancient tarot deck was just too tempting. The previous two books in the series I'd loved, where in Dead of Winter I felt the romance almost completely engulfed the storyline. I still found it entertaining, but Evie's indecisiveness left me wanting to slap her in the face with a phone book.

Even being the focal point of the storyline, she was by far the weakest link. Demanding answers while divulging none of her own, how many times can you leave your lack of explanation to it being too complicated or simply, I can't do this right now. It became her mantra in the end. Even though both love interests are at opposites ends of the scale, and he may have imprisoned her against her will, the Reaper Aric is a far more complex love interest. Although he only seems to have two emotions, angry and frisky. Still, that's one more than Jack, who is a serious drunk hell bent on protecting Evie. Aric would rather leave her to her own devices and to fight her own battles, not allowing the girl who can poison a population on the wind, by playing the victim.

But as entertained as I was, I felt this book hasn't added anything of significance to the series, apart from seeing the murderous banter between Jack and Aric. The romance was repetitive and cliche, and having enjoyed the first two in the series, I hope that this doesn't set the precedent for what I will now assume will be the final book. Fingers crossed it's not drawn out and deservedly wraps up on a high.

The bright spark of Dead of Winter is Selena, the Huntress with the quick wit and sharp tongue. I would love to see her with her own point of view.