I really enjoyed this short novella. The Winter Witch by Karpov Kinrade & Heather Hildenbrand is a paranormal fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast combined with The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds. I can’t speak to the latter fairy tale, but the romantic elements of the first are there. Following Adara, The Winter Witch is a fast-paced, slow burn romance that will make any fantasy lover happy.

Adara is a witch, the first to be born in a long time. She has trained her entire life to master her abilities and kill the cursed prince that rules over her village. This year she is chosen as the sacrifice, and this year she plans to kill him. I like Adara. She knows what she must do, is prepared to do it, and is ready to die if she must. She shows great courage, even when set on avenging her parents who died at the prince’s hands.

The prince was unexpected. He is immortal, cursed with bloodlust. Over the years he’s lived, he’s learned how long he can go between feedings. This is why he asks for a yearly sacrifice. This gives him the ability to feed without killing too many. He’s remorseful and unhappy with his lot in life. This isn’t what he wants, but he doesn’t know how to stop or break his curse. I found myself really liking the prince early on. He was caring and kind, even if he was dangerous.

Overall I really enjoyed this short holiday novella. The world building, the romance, and the characters are well thought out, vivid, and haunting. The plot is fast-moving, coupled with a slow-burn romance that left me smiling in the end. If you enjoy paranormal romance, I highly recommend it.

This review first appeared on Mom with a Reading Problem. To see it and other reviews, follow the link.