It's been a long time since I read East, and I worried that would be a barrier to reading the sequel. Not so! Pattou's mesmerizing storytelling captures the reader and brings us up to speed even as the next adventure unfolds. I found the multiple viewpoints very effective, and the section that deals with the sweating sickness was an eerie reflection on our current times. Excellent.

advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

I admit to some apprehension when I began reading this book. Its predecessor East is one of my all-time favorite books and it ended perfectly. A sequel was unnecessary, to my mind.

And yet, reading this sequel so many years later (half a lifetime for me!), I fell into the familiar spell that East initially cast on me. West follows the same formula of the "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" fairytale, but it's different enough that I was never bored.

I still maintain that East didn't need a sequel, but since Edith Pattou decided to write one, West is a worthy continuation of the story of Rose and her White Bear. ( )

It seemed like there were too many storylines and wayyyy too many false endings. The "why" behind several key points in the story felt shallow (as did some characters reactions). Some characters were expendable but weren't "expended."

It was a clever mix-match of fantastical legends and other tales (Here's looking at you Hans) but I liked the first one better. But teenage me would have lapped this up. So maybe I'm just too old and cynical. ( )

Edith Pattou's follow up to East (which I loved) is equally as good. Rather than doing it the injustice of poorly describing the book, suffice it to say it is a wonderful tale or epic about rescuing the one you love from danger.

Read East and then read West and then hope there is a North and a South in the future. ( )

West by Edith Pattou is the sequel to East and continues the tale of Rose and her lover. Years pass, and the pair have a baby they name Winn. Things are going great, til one day Charles, now free of the bear enchantment, is presumed lost at sea when the ship he was traveling on sinks. Rose refuses to accept that, and once again our intrepid explorer sets off after her love. Rose is more right than she knows, and she's in for the adventure of her life, living up to her 'curse’ as a North-born babe. In the course of her travels and investigations, new friends and enemies abound, and some ‘old friends’ come to play.

As with the previous book in the duology, West sports multiple perspectives, allowing for a richer story. Rose was my favourite to follow. I feel she grew from her last adventure, and she's growing through this one, despite everything thrown at her. I loved the references and weaving in of Norse mythology and folklore. I did feel the chapters were a bit shorter than I would have liked. I felt I didn't have enough time to really settle in with a narrator before moving on to the next. It wasn't terrible though, and I still enjoyed the multiple perspectives. Recommended for any who love fantasy!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book was reviewed for the Fantastic Flying Book Club. ( )