Genre: Post apocalyptic/dystopian fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars

If you want to be fully immersed in a world with all of your senses, pick up The Wolves of Winter. It’ll do just that.

The story follows 23 year old Lynn Mcbride who lives with her remaining family in the sparse deserted land in Yukon, Canada. The world has gone to hell as continents clash and fight, with an eventual flu outbreak leaving the world’s occupants scattered to fend for themselves. Things are dire as Lynn and her family hunt to survive and deal with the possible idea that they’re the last of humankind. The story changes pace when Jax, a lonesome traveller, shows up with more questions that need answering…

I quite enjoyed this one. I always appreciate some adult fiction from my normal YA as the character’s ambitions are quite different, and the writing style is more to the point.

Some positive notes:

– The world portrayed was so vivid. The snowy landscape felt so real and I could imagine how cold they all felt. The harsh landscape paired with the driven characters made a formidable novel.

– Lynn was a great protagonist. She’s strong, to the point and knows her worth. It was so nice having an assertive lead who took the reins of her life and went after her own goals.

– The family dynamic added that emotional tether needed in survival fiction. With a father deceased, Lynn’s uncle became the father figure to their makeshift family of Lynn, her mother, brother and family friends son Ramsey. They bonded and worked together to survive, and made a great team against any opposing threats.

Some negative notes:

– I felt the ‘flu pandemic’ aspect that was introduced as part of the conflict wasn’t original enough. The first half of the book started as a realistic post apocalyptic war zone, but the introduction of the disease outbreak, whilst also realistic, made this novel lose its unique appeal. I’ve read too many novels with the outbreak storyline and the ‘perfect cure’ being the only answer. I just wanted something a bit different.

– The romance, whilst quite innocent, wasn’t 100% necessary for me. Trust me, I like romance in a book, but I always wonder in dystopian/survival stories how the characters have time to develop feelings and act on them when their world is going to hell. I understood Lynn and Jax’s romance, but also cringed a bit.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The stakes were high and I was definitely on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. If you want an intriguing plot, pick this one up!