Winter Turning
Winter Turning, the seventh book in Tui T. Sutherland's 'Wings of Fire' series, is a middle-grade fantasy novel geared towards readers aged 8-12. This installment, part of 'The Jade Mountain Prophecy' arc, delves into the personal journey of Winter, an IceWing prince grappling with his tribe's rigid traditions and his family's high expectations. The narrative centers on Winter's quest to find his missing sister, Icicle, who has committed serious crimes, and rescue his brother, Hailstorm, from the clutches of the villainous Queen Scarlet. Joined by his friends from Jade Mountain Academy, Winter confronts themes of prejudice, loyalty, and self-discovery amidst a perilous landscape. The book offers a blend of adventure and character-driven conflict, continuing the series' exploration of complex social and emotional issues within an engaging dragon-filled world.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe book contains numerous instances of violence, including threats of torture, graphic injuries, and a depiction of dead dragons. The plot is driven by perilous quests and confrontations, with a significant emphasis on battle and conflict between dragon tribes.
1. Queen Scarlet explicitly threatens to torture and kill Hailstorm in Winter's dream, detailing methods such as burning him, gouging out his eyes, or suffocating him with live goats, creating intense and disturbing imagery. 2. Winter's sister, Icicle, is found in a 'horrible condition' with 'unhealed wounds' and 'red and blue blood' on her scales after being involved in violent acts, including an attempted murder of Starflight and the murder of a NightWing. The book also references a 'room of frozen corpses' in the Ice Kingdom.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe book contains intense and frightening elements, including graphic threats, depictions of injured and dead dragons, and psychological distress. The narrative consistently places characters in dangerous, high-stakes situations.
1. Queen Scarlet's detailed threats to torture and kill Hailstorm in Winter's dream, including suggestions of gouging out eyes and suffocation, are explicitly described and highly disturbing, despite occurring in a dream sequence. 2. Winter's sister, Icicle, is portrayed in a state of severe mental and physical anguish, with 'blood on her scales' and unable to sleep due to terrifying nightmares caused by Queen Scarlet, highlighting psychological trauma and fear.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile 'Winter Turning' itself does not explicitly feature LGBTQ+ characters or relationships, it exists within the 'Wings of Fire' series which later introduces prominent LGBTQ+ representation. Author Tui T. Sutherland has stated that various outcomes for the main love triangle, including same-sex pairings, are 'theoretically possible,' and has confirmed the existence of transgender dragons in the world. Later books in the series explicitly include lesbian characters, and the author's stated intent is to foster acceptance.
1. Author Tui T. Sutherland indicated that any outcome for the Moon-Winter-Qibli love triangle was 'theoretically possible,' which includes a potential romantic relationship between male characters Winter and Qibli. 2. In later books of the 'Wings of Fire' series, explicitly lesbian characters such as Sundew and Willow (Book 13, 'The Poison Jungle') and Anemone and Tamarin are introduced, and these relationships are portrayed seamlessly and without judgment. Author Tui T. Sutherland has also confirmed the existence of transgender dragons in the series, though none are main characters to avoid misrepresentation.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe world of 'Winter Turning' features a significant magic system, 'animus magic,' which has powerful and potentially dark consequences, including transformations and mind manipulation. Prophecies and dream manipulation also play a role, integral to the fantasy setting.
1. Animus magic is centrally featured through Hailstorm's transformation into Pyrite via an enchanted necklace, which alters his memories and personality, demonstrating magic's ability to strip free will and cause profound psychological effects. 2. Queen Scarlet utilizes a 'Dreamvisitor' to enter Winter's dreams, where she delivers manipulative threats and proposals, showcasing a form of magical influence over a character's subconscious.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumDisrespect and rebellion are central themes in 'Winter Turning,' primarily through the protagonist Winter's defiance of his tribe's prejudices and his family's expectations. His sister, Icicle, engages in more severe rebellious acts, including attempted murder and fleeing authorities.
1. Winter consistently defies his family's and tribe's expectations and prejudices, especially regarding other dragon tribes. He initially rejects help from his non-IceWing clawmates, believing 'IceWings...can fix their own problems,' a direct challenge to the inter-tribal cooperation promoted by Jade Mountain Academy. 2. Icicle openly rebels against authority by 'fleeing terrible crimes and possibly planning to commit more,' including an attempt to murder Queen Glory for Queen Scarlet, demonstrating extreme defiance.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomantic elements are present in the form of a love triangle involving the protagonist, Winter, and other main characters (Moonwatcher and Qibli). These portrayals are limited to crushes and internal emotional conflicts, suitable for a middle-grade audience. Explicit sexual content is absent from the book and the series.
1. Winter harbors strong, often conflicting, romantic feelings for Moonwatcher, described as 'in love with Moon,' but struggles with these emotions due to his IceWing prejudice against NightWings. 2. The narrative highlights Winter's internal 'angst and inner thoughts about relationships' concerning the love triangle between himself, Moonwatcher, and Qibli, but these interactions remain age-appropriate, focusing on emotional dynamics rather than physical intimacy.
Profanity
LowThe book and series contain very minimal traditional profanity. Instead, characters use mild, fantasy-specific exclamations and creative insults, which are appropriate for a middle-grade audience.
1. Characters occasionally use mild, fantasy-themed exclamations such as Qibli saying 'By all the snakes' in a moment of surprise or fear. 2. The dragons in the series employ creative, non-profane insults, like the reported 'frog-faced blob of camel spit,' which serve as expressions of anger or frustration without using strong language.
Substance Use
LowDirect depictions of substance use in 'Winter Turning' are absent. While discussions within fan communities and mentions in other books of the series allude to the existence of alcohol (e.g., 'sober guards') or hallucinogenic plants in the broader dragon world, these are not explicit or central to the plot of this specific book.
1. The book itself does not feature any explicit scenes of characters consuming alcohol, smoking, or using drugs. 2. While not directly in 'Winter Turning,' fan discussions about the 'Wings of Fire' series suggest the existence of hallucinogenic frogs in the rainforest or 'smoke berries' used by RainWings, as well as implied alcohol consumption by guards in earlier books, but these are not present in 'Winter Turning.'
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book exists within a fantasy world where Christian or any specific real-world religious themes are absent. The narrative focuses on its own dragon-centric mythology, prophecies, and a system of animus magic, without any explicit mockery, criticism, or opposition to Christian beliefs. The author draws from a diverse background but expresses intent to foster discussion on general morality rather than promote or oppose specific religions.
1. The 'Wings of Fire' series, including 'Winter Turning,' is set in a fantasy world with its own mythology and power structures, such as prophecies and animus magic, and does not feature any gods, religious practices, or Christian figures. 2. The author, Tui T. Sutherland, stated she intentionally uses her fantasy worlds to explore 'philosophical and moral implications' and 'questions to contemplate,' rather than discussing or critiquing real-world religious beliefs.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 10-12, due to themes of violence, psychological distress, and complex moral dilemmas. While the reading level suits 8-12, the intensity of threats, detailed descriptions of intended harm, and emotional struggles of characters may be more suitable for slightly older or more mature middle-grade readers.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware that while 'Winter Turning' is a middle-grade book, it continues to explore complex themes such as the psychological impact of trauma and moral ambiguities. The broader 'Wings of Fire' series, particularly in later installments, introduces explicit LGBTQ+ relationships and gender identities, which some Christian parents may find concerning.
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