Winter Turning (book)
Template:Infobox Book Winter Turning is the seventh book in the New York Times bestselling Wings of Fire series, the second book in the second arc, and the first book to feature an IceWing as the main character. The main protagonist of the book is a male IceWing dragonet and prince named Winter, who first appeared in the sixth book in the Wings of Fire series, Moon Rising. The book was officially released in the United States on June 30, 2015.
The title likely alludes to Winter turning into a kinder and more open dragon.
Winter Turning follows Moon Rising and precedes Escaping Peril.
Description
Daring mission ... or deadly mistake.
winter bad
winter bad
Dedication
To Catherine and Ella, because you are awesome and could definitely save the world (from dragons or for dragons, either way)!
Plot Synopsis
Prologue
The book began two years earlier from Hailstorm's PoV. He was taking his younger brother, Winter, out flying to find a scavenger den near SkyWing territory. Winter became increasingly worried that they might be caught by the SkyWings, but Hailstorm assured him that he could fight off a couple of SkyWings if they did get caught, and they were doing this for Winter's "weird little obsession". Hailstorm continued to boast about his position in the Ice Kingdom and being the second-in-command of the IceWing army.
Fourteen SkyWings appeared from the trees behind them, prepared to kidnap both IceWing princes. Hailstorm threatened to kill the SkyWings that dare to come close with his frost breath, but the main SkyWing (perhaps Queen Ruby as she says "Mother will be interested", probably referring to Queen Scarlet) in front didn't seem to care. Hailstorm attempted to make a deal to let Winter go and just take him instead. Winter was completely against the idea and tried to be brave and stay with Hailstorm, so his older brother started insulting him and calling him useless, knowing that was the only way to get Winter to leave. Finally, the SkyWings let Winter go and decide to knock out Hailstorm.
Later, when Hailstorm woke up, he realized he was face to face with Queen Scarlet. A strange SkyWing (probably Chameleon wearing the "Pyrite mask") was standing near the Queen's throne. After a little chat, Scarlet told the strange SkyWing that Hailstorm was dangerous and he needed to be imprisoned. The SkyWing turned and approaches him, making the IceWing prince feel cold with fear. She reached for something around her neck. Hailstorm, too hypnotized by her eyes to move, couldn't run. He noticed that her eyes weren't SkyWing eyes anymore. Her eyes were black and they were going to swallow him whole.
winter bad
Part 2: In the Claws of the Clouds
Deathbringer couldn't identify the mountains that Moon saw but told them that the Talons of Peace might have a SkyWing that could. The four dragonets and Deathbringer head off to find them and passed by a scavenger den. The scavengers tried to hit Qibli with a weapon, most likely a ballista, but Winter blasted frostbreath at the spear, knocking it off course. He told them to move to a higher spot to avoid being hit.
After explaining and drawing the weapon for Qibli, Winter was attacked by Squid. Riptide, who had followed Squid, told him to leave the dragonets alone. He couldn't identify the mountains either, so he called other dragons, including Cirrus and Pyrite. Winter didn't remember Cirrus because Cirrus had been in the Talons of Peace before he was born. Pyrite remembered the mountains and offered to lead them to it. Winter touched her scales and identified her as an animus dragon.
While everyone was asleep that night, Winter told Moon about his theory. Moon told him that Pyrite's thoughts were all the same thing as if she didn't think anything else. They wondered if she could be the part of the prophecy; "Beware the one who is not what she seems." However, Qibli pointed out that Pyrite couldn't be an animus because the SkyWings hadn't had one possibly as long as the IceWings.
In the morning, they saw the mountain peak and find a scale, which Pyrite identified as Scarlet's. The group searched the valley, but with no signs other than the destroyed structure the scale was found in. Scarlet visited Winter's dreams that night and told Winter that she was going to kill Hailstorm in the morning. After realizing that Scarlet must have seen them dreamvisit him, Moon, Qibli, and Winter headed off to find Scarlet. They were able to find her and saw that Scarlet had a NightWing ally. Scarlet decided she no longer had any use for Hailstorm and sent the NightWing to go get Pyrite. Pyrite was necessary for the death of Hailstorm.
The trio flew back to their camp, waking up Pyrite and Kinkajou. Winter started fighting with Pyrite, and then Kinkajou shrieked upon the NightWing's arrival. He struck her three times and then knocked her into a tree. Moon and Winter sprayed fire and frostbreath on him until he flew away. While Moon was seeing to Kinkajou's wounds, Winter took off Pyrite's special necklace. When he did, Pyrite turned into Hailstorm. Hailstorm had almost no memories of the past two years and tried to remember more, but it was difficult for him. Their reunion was cut short when they recalled Kinkajou's current state.
The trio took turns carrying Kinkajou to Possibility, a town in the SandWing kingdom. Moon and Kinkajou were taken to a MudWing doctor named Mayfly. Hailstorm, Qibli, and Winter waited in the garden, where they disassembled Pyrite's necklace, discovering a strange piece of paper inside that read:
Enchant this paper so that when any dragon wears it in the form of a necklace, he or she shall fully become a female SkyWing named Pyrite, with the following conditions:
(1) Completely loyal to Queen Scarlet and the SkyWing tribe
(2) Insecure and weak
(3) No memory of his or her former identity
(4) Compelled to wear this necklace at all times with life-or-death urgency
Winter wanted to try on the necklace to see what it felt like being Pyrite and to see what Hailstorm went through. But before he tried it on, Qibli ripped off number four to see if Winter could take it off. Winter tried it on and ultimately regretted his choice. Winter forgot everything about being an IceWing until he took the necklace off.
After Hailstorm made a fool of himself, Winter decided to take Hailstorm back to the IceWing kingdom. Moon was trying to make him stay but he left and told Moon that they were never friends, and he could never trust a NightWing. Then he and his brother left and went to the Ice Kingdom.
Part 3: Beneath the Ice
As they went to the Ice Kingdom, Winter explained the Great Ice Cliff for Hailstorm to remember. He said it was animus touched that if any dragon from another tribe were to pass, they would die. As they entered the palace, Winter and Hailstorm met their father, who said, "So. My two sons have returned to me. One I thought would never come back - the other I hoped never would." Winter looked at the rankings and saw Icicle and himself in the last two places. Narwhal was extremely displeased with Winter for his actions, but Hailstorm claimed that Winter did so to save his life. The next day during a rankings ceremony, Narwhal added Hailstorm back into the rankings. However, he was placed into the bottom of the Seventh Circle. Winter was moved into first place for bringing Hailstorm home. Hailstorm then attempted the Diamond Trial, which took place at sunset the next day. On the flight there, Winter told Queen Glacier everything that had happened since he left Jade Mountain. However, he left out a few things. Once they arrived at the Diamond Caves, Glacier made a small speech. Winter and Hailstorm then entered the Diamond Caves.
Hailstorm and Winter went deep into the ice caves. Winter was appalled to see that there were almost a hundred dragons encased in ice. Hailstorm then flew over to the spot where Foeslayer was frozen. He tapped on the frozen dragon, bringing Foeslayer to life. They introduced themselves, and then Hailstorm attempted to kill her. Foeslayer was about to stab him with the spear when Winter knocked her aside. Winter tried to make scenarios where they both lived, but Hailstorm disagreed with all of them. Foeslayer requested for one of them to kill her, which Hailstorm did. Winter then told Hailstorm to go out and claim victory, and that he would sneak out later and stay away from the Ice Kingdom. Several hours later, Winter revived Foeslayer and told her how much she stole when she took away the tribe's animus dragons. She argued that the IceWings may have used the magic for evil, and also revealed the fact that she didn't steal Prince Arctic. Winter freed Foeslayer and proceeded to go with her, as she knew exactly where the "Lost Kingdom of Night" was.
Epilogue
Darkstalker listened in on the thoughts of various dragons at Jade Mountain. He learned that Onyx was planning something with some old dragon, and thought about how the possible futures would play out and if they would work to his advantage. After studying Anemone's futures and reading her mind, he moved on to Peril. He theorized that she might be the 'Talons of Power and Fire', and noted that she could change everything.
Trivia
- Instead of The _ _ title pattern for the book titles, Moon Rising and Winter Turning appear to follow a pattern of the main character's name and a gerund. This pattern does not continue after Escaping Peril.
- This is the third (out of four) books where the dragon on the cover is not flying, the other three being The Dark Secret, The Lost Heir, and Darkness of Dragons.
- Instead of a preview of Escaping Peril, Winter Turning has a smaller version of the special edition letter seen in The Brightest Night.
- Winter Turning and The Dark Secret have the same number of pages: 295.
- On the cover, Winter is missing his Skyfire pouch.
- Winter Turning is the first book (out of two) in the second series to not have another character on the back cover, the other being Darkness of Dragons.
- This is the second book in the series to have the main protagonist standing on a rock-like structure on the cover, the first being The Dark Secret and the third being Darkness Of Dragons.
- Winter Turning is the first book to have no deaths, the second being The Lost Continent.
- This is the only book so far that has more than one main story protagonist, with the protagonists being Winter and Pyrite.
- Winter Turning‘s French version is called Le piège de Glace, meaning The Ice Trap. This could be referring to different things, such as Hailstorm being 'trapped' as Pyrite or Winter and Hailstorm going into the Diamond Trial.
Gallery
Covers
Click here to see the cover gallery.
Fanart
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Winter -
By Nathia -
Prince Winter of the IceWings
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IceWing
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IceWing Winter -
By Antlantic (on different art program)
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de:Winter Turning
fr:Le Piège de Glace
ru:Сердце Холода
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