DRC Review: Winter's Dawn by Morgan L. Busse

Release date: 11 August 2026

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:  Fearless. Defender. Shield Maiden.

Brighid returns to the Nordic forces. But she is not alone. Her newfound companion accompanies her, along with Kaeden, the Eldaran Truthsayer. Together, they approach the battlefield, powered by a unique bond forged since their first encounter.

Yet a dark and menacing presence grows within Brighid’s mind. Her connection to death has returned, and this time, there is no oath to numb the terror. Will she be able to fight and protect her people while sensing the reaper of life?

Kaeden’s recent conflict with one of the Shadonae has left scars across both his body and soul. Still, he is determined to finish what he has started and free both the Nordic people and the world of this great evil. To do so, he may have to sacrifice everything to reach the one who has bound the Nordic people to this deadly war.

Kaeden will need Brighid’s help. But when he reveals the truth behind the dreams they have shared, Brighid must make a choice that could change not only her future but the fate of her people: accept the bond between them or let it fade—and lose him along with it.

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Review

You know how you read sequels and have already forgotten most, if not all, of the story from the first and how that story amnesia compounds exponentially after the second and subsequent installments of a series?

Yeah…that didn't happen here. At all.

*high fives Brighid

*thumb points to Kaeden before turning and waggles eyebrows

*tackles bear baby Bjornfrost 

After that massively shocking ending from Winter's Chill, this story and these characters have permanently imprinted themselves in my brain. I'm not surprised, though, because I've read much of the Busse backlist and luuuuvvved it (may I recommend The Ravenwood Saga and The Skyworld duology—the former remains one of my all-time favorite series).

The Nordic Wars series concludes with the banger, Winter's Dawn, and I was so excited to get to its pages, but now that it's over, I'm adrift. This is why I stockpile books from my favorite authors and just leave them on the shelf, unread. Busse is among a myriad of wonderful world crafters who have been writing romantasy before it exploded in popularity recently. She's pretty great at it, too. Great enough for me that, despite my intentional avoidance of most of the romantasy releasing lately (unless certain bookish folk insist I read particular titles), I will pick up Busse's books because I know I will have a good time and not get bored.

A true enemies-to-lovers romance, Kaeden and Brighid, healer and warrior (née a healer herself), round out their romantic journey in this book with sorting out the warm fuzzies, mitigating their families' strife, and navigating what the world will look like if they stay together. I love these complicated problems. The best writers always bring impossible odds and find fantastic, healthy, believable ways to overcome them for couples who start out out opposite sides of conflict. Busse does this beautifully. Each works out internal problems before getting more attached and romantically involved with the other. 

Winter's Dawn boasts great pacing, wrapping up things in battles and strategy meetings while weaving romance and camaraderie into the bustle and still managing to sport that slow burn I love so much in romances. The plot picks up immediately following the events of the second installment, so folks who fell off that cliff last time will experience immediate gratification while getting catapulted through an insanely action-packed conclusion. 

My thanks to the author and Enclave publishing for the DRC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

#morganlbusse #wintersdawn #thenordicwars #nospice #contentadvisory #violence #enclavepublishing