The Wolves of Winter can best be described as a post-apocalyptic, dystopia. Nothing unusual in that other than it’s not YA. Most novels of this type seem to be firmly aimed at the young adult market – think Hunger Games as just one example – and hey, people like me who’ve always had a fondness for the genre can’t help but feel a little left out.

Lynn McBride lives with her family in the frozen wastes of the Canadian Yukon. Society has collapsed after global war followed by a deadly flu pandemic and they fled city life for first Alaska and then the isolation of the Canadian tundra. They’ve seen no one else in years (apart from one antisocial neighbouring survivor) and survive by hunting and foraging. When Jax, a mystery stranger arrives on the scene, it disturbs the equilibrium of their contained world.

Jax heralds the arrival of further survivors, notably the Immunity, the remnants of a shadowy government agency, who immediately before the fall of civilisation were attempting to staunch the spread of the virus by setting up isolation zones. Without divulging spoilers, it quickly transpires that the Immunity are not all they seem and in turn this leads to Lynn unearthing dark secrets about her own family.

The Wolves of Winter is engaging enough, it certainly kept me turning the page. Some of the description of the cold tundra landscape was beautiful and evocative. The book doesn’t break the mould however and there was nothing here I hadn’t encountered in previous books of its ilk. Furthermore, while aimed at adults, Wolves of Winter has a definite YA feel, so much so I regularly forgot the protagonist was twenty-five years old rather than a teenager. This isn’t really a criticism as such, many adults enjoy reading YA fiction. That said, I picked up this title because I wanted something grittier, imagining a dystopian version of The Revenant; I assumed that as a novel aimed at adults this is what I would get but instead found this indistinguishable from many of the YA offerings.

In conclusion, The Wolves of Winter is an accomplished effort but it’s by far the best example of this genre that I’ve read.

This novel has a little bit of everything I love mixed into it - a post-apocalyptic/dystopian society with elements of mystery and coming of age of protagonist, Lynn. The setting is the wilderness of remote Canada. The pacing was excellent and the writing was smooth and easy to follow. Johnson knows how to ratchet up the tension and create great atmospherics. I enjoyed the action throughout and even the hint of romance, which I don't usually appreciate, felt as though it fit in with the overall tone of the book. I generally do like a little romance if it is done well and complements the story. The world-building is vivid and the ending is a satisfying conclusion to the tale.

The timing of this release was excellent - there's nothing like reading a book describing beautiful snowy and desolate landscapes when it is cold and/or snowy where you're reading!

I would like to thank Tyrell Johnson, HQ and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

3.5 stars

Gwendolynn 'Lynn' McBride and her family moved to Yukon when she was young, after war and disease broke out, ending society as we know it. Now in her early twenties, Lynn spends her time hunting and surviving in the snow-covered landscape.
Things change when Lynn comes across a stranger and his dog. Jax brings danger to Lynn and her family.
What secrets will be unearthed?
Will everyone survive the events that follow Jax's arrival?

The Wolves of Winter reminded me of one of my favourite books, Wolf Road by Beth Lewis, in a lot of ways - both are post-apocalyptic/dystopian books set in the Yukon with female protagonists that can hunt. When I realised that there were so many similarities, I was worried I wouldn't enjoy The Wolves of Winter, but it surprised me.
I thought Lynn was a good protagonist and there were several other characters that I liked.
The plot was good and held my attention. There were a few aspects of it that I had read in other books, but I felt they worked well together in this. The action was well-done and there was a little romance (which I liked).
I did feel that it could have been a bit longer because I seemed to read it really quickly, but the pacing was good. Part of me wants a sequel, but I also liked the way the story ended.
The writing style was easy to follow and made me want to read on.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Tyrell Johnson writes next.

Overall this was an enjoyable read.

I thought this was a great read. I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into it but after a couple of chapters I was hooked. One of the main things I enjoyed about this book is the atmosphere. The author does a wonderful job at creating a suspenseful atmosphere that builds throughout the book. I think the frequent use of profanity may be a little off putting for some, so that may be something to be aware of. This book is also not for the faint hearted as it deals with violence and sexual assault. The characters are well written and the world building is good. It is a little ambiguous but I think that lends itself to the mystery of the book. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend checking it out if you are interested in the premise.

On its surface this is a post apocalyptic aftermath novel. But it’s also so much more than that: a sci-fi, a mystery, a coming of age drama, a surviver-wilderness tale. The setting is amazing. The characters are engaging and I just love a story that pits its MCs against hardships and harsh survival conditions so that what their really fighting is themselves. This was exactly the book I wanted to read. Just perfect.

Lynn McBride has learned much since society collapsed in the face of nuclear war and the relentless spread of disease. As memories of her old life haunt her, she has been forced to forge ahead in the snow-covered Canadian Yukon, learning how to hunt and trap to survive.

But her fragile existence is about to be shattered. Shadows of the world before have found her tiny community—most prominently in the enigmatic figure of Jax, who sets in motion a chain of events that will force Lynn to fulfill a destiny she never imagined.

It always pleases me when I start to read a novel, and within a handful of pages I find myself completely hooked. The debut novel by Tyrell Johnson, The Wolves of Winter, is a perfect example of this. You can’t beat a bit of good old post-apocalyptic fiction, can you?

Lynn McBride is a survivor, she’s had no choice in the matter. She has grown up in a world where incendiary politics has led to war, and that war has led to the release of biological weapons. Her family have tried to stay one step ahead of the conflict and the disease, and have ended up in the middle of nowhere. Born in Chicago, growing up in Alaska and now living in the relative isolation of the Yukon Lynn has become wary of all strangers. Resources are a scarce commodity and any stranger arriving at her family’s small farmstead is viewed with suspicion. Remaining apart from the remnants of humanity has served the small group well. They have avoided the worst elements of society’s collapse.

A chance meeting brings a new person into Lynn’s sheltered existence. Initially, Jax, the man she meets, is a bit of a mystery. He is certainly not forthcoming when it comes to details about his history. Once Lynn, her mother and brother are sure that Jax is no immediate threat they reluctantly allow him into their lives. The problem? Jax does have a secret; he is on the run from a sinister group known as Immunity. They will stop at nothing to find him and are quite prepared to take down anyone who gets in their way. The end of the world has finally caught up with Lynn and she has to make a decision, try to run once again or stay and fight?

Lynn is a fascinating character, she is haunted by vivid memories of her father. Though long gone, a victim of the plague that has killed millions, his insight has guided Lynn for years. These introspective moments in the novel are wonderful. They really help to flesh out Lynn’s motivations and make her feel that much more real. The reader gets to experience her doubts and worries. She lives in a world where a single mistake can mean death, so every action and reaction has to be measured and decisive.

I make no secret about the fact that I enjoy apocalyptic fiction. I always find myself engrossed with any story where regular people are thrust into extraordinary circumstances. The Wolves of Winter is no exception. Lynn and her family are just trying to get by. They have closed themselves off from the outside world, hoping to wait out the worst and avoid any conflict. Unfortunately, times have changed. That thin veneer of civility that society pretends to have has eroded and now those who are strong enough can just take whatever they want. Watching characters realise that there has been a seismic shift in the rules is engrossing. Some try to cling onto the old ways of thinking while others are far more pragmatic.

The majority of the narrative takes place over a quite a small geographical area in the heart of winter. The author does however offer some tantalising hints about what is going on in the wider world. Jax has travelled a great deal and, when he does finally start to reveal details about himself, you learn that he has seen the best and worst of humanity. Setting this tale in an inhospitable climate works well as it helps to heighten the sense of isolation and tension surrounding events.

The novel ends on a hopeful note. Though each of the characters has been forever changed by their experiences there is still a sense that things can get better. I can only hope that there will be a sequel to this story. I’d love to learn what is going on elsewhere. How are people surviving in larger towns and cities? Are they surviving at all? There is so much potential to continue developing these characters and the broken world they inhabit.

Regular readers of The Eloquent Page will know that I like to recommend music to compliment any novel that I review. My soundtrack choice to accompany The Wolves of Winter is the hauntingly evocative Wind River by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

The Wolves of Winter is published by HQ and is available now. Highly recommended.

REVIEW

To be totally honest I originally thought just from the title that this would be a shifter book, but I was totally wrong there though when I read the blurb I decided I still really wanted to read this one. I loved a good post-apocalyptic read. I also enjoy reading debut authors so had to give this one a go.

The cover shows a bleak landscape with lots of snow on the ground and snow falling too. There are thin spindly trees featured on the cover. I love the bold style of the title as well as blocky effect of the font and how it dominates the book cover. The "I" in winter is also replaced by a lonely figure walking in snow, which when you read the book you just know the figure is the main character of Lynn McBride.

The genres I have seen listed for this book are Sci-Fi, Dystopian, and Mystery which I totally agree with but I would also definitely add post-apocalyptic. The other sub genres that are featured are climate change, genetics and virus. After reading the book I would be tempted to add futuristic too.

This book is set in a bleak future where war has decimated the world and its population, and where a flu virus created on American soil has killed off many people both intended in Asia and unintended back in America along with the weather going kind of crazy makes the world a harsher place to live. Where the climate is warmer the flu is more virulent so naturally some people opt to move to cooler climates even if this means a harsher, more difficult style of living. One family that has made this difficult move is that of Lynn McBride. Lynn lives with her only surviving parent, her mother, her older brother Ken who treats her more like a friend/buddy than his younger sister. Also in their family group is Jeryl, Lynn's Uncle on her dad’s side of the family. Jeryl has become the leader of their group and father figure since her own father died. Last but not least is Ramsey, the son of John-Henry, best friend to Jeryl. When John-Henry died it seemed only natural for Jeryl to take in Ramsey.

The book starts with the 26 year old Lynn discovering one of her traps has been triggered yet is empty and surrounded with blood. Lynn immediately presumes one of three things has happened. One, the animal could have gotten loose, two, Wolves had gotten to the animal caught in her trap or three, the most likely explanation is that Anthony Conrad had stolen her kill!! Lynn checks the animal tracks and identifies that the animal caught in her trap had been a deer. A deer meant a great catch and a good meal. Lynn had even pulled her sleigh all the way out to her traps to drag anything back to her family. Naturally Lynn is fuming and decides to confront Anthony Conrad who is her families nearest neighbour. The confrontation doesn't go well and ends up with Anthony Conrad surprising Lynn by striking her and then pinning her to the ground groping and threatening her.

Back at the settlement Lynn and her family live in there are four buildings strung together in a narrow valley which is surrounded by hills. Lynn and her mom live in the largest building which is a log cabin, it was the first thing her family group built. Initially they all lived in it until the other buildings were ready. Now things have changed with the addition of extra buildings. Jeryl and Ramsey have their own cabin. It took a while for him to decide but Ken decided to construct his own cabin too which he has to himself, giving him some independence from living under his mom's rule. The remaining building is a multi-use building, for storing the firewood and equipment and for the animals that they had managed to bring with them from their previous home. They have two goats called Hector and Helen that provided milk and cheese as well as an early warning system, telling them when wolves were about too. The other animal they brought was a musk ox that Lynn called Stankbutt as she thinks it more fitting than Jebediah which is what everyone else calls him. The Ox was old and provided very little for the human keepers, though Jeryl and Ramsey had ox fur coats.


This books timeline jumps about quite a bit which I ended up labelling in my book notes as "Present Past" and "Present Now". So to share a little more about the book the "Present Past" covers the fact that the McBride family once lived a fairly average, normal life in Chicago. Then when Lynn was around twelve years old they moved to Alaska which was before the bomb hit New York. Everything changed then, fires started, TV's stopped working, planes stopped flying and then things just continued to get worse. The War began, nuclear strikes, sides were taken by different countries having to choose to be pro or against America. Then as all this progresses America uses biological warfare by sending a form of flu to Asia, only they fail to realise that the flu will spread so easily and it actually ends up claiming victims back in America too. To try to control the flu spreading a taskforce is created and called the DCIA: Disease Containment and Immunity Advancement, though people refer to them as the "Immunity" or "Immunisers". These people dressed in a in a uniform that has white stars on the shoulders went into schools and businesses giving out containment rules and masks. People were told that the Immunity were doing research but all they seemed to do was blocking off zones they perceived as safe. The Immunity had trucks, soldiers and guns too! Sadly whatever the Immunity were meant to be doing was too little, too late as the flu spread like crazy. International travel stopped, communication faltered when the mail stopped, then the schools and hospitals were closed. Following this the fighting and looting began, people were moving around in attempt to find a flu free place to settle.

Lynn was lucky in a way, as she was kept pretty sheltered by her parents. The only differences in life she initially noticed was when he biologist father began working from home in their basement. In fact she became very curious about what her father was doing down there. Sadly Lynn becomes seriously ill hallucinating that a bee stings her and then she slowly gets better each day but unfortunately the flu hasn't finished with this family when her dad gets the flu he doesn't recover, he dies. That's when Uncle Jeryl takes over as head of the family and self appointed protector of the family. He literally saves the family as when Lynn's dad dies of the flu her mum slips into a trance like, just existing state. Uncle Jeryl has to be blunt and perhaps a little cruel and hard hearted to snap Lynn's mum out of the the just existing state she has gotten herself into. Once she has snapped back to harsh reality and the fact they must move from Alaska to survive as to stay would mean more risk of the flu or the immunity researchers, Lynn's mum becomes harder, tougher and more determined to keep the remainder of her family close and safe.

This book has so many great characters that I grew fond of in different ways for all sorts of reasons. One of the character's I have to mention is Lynn, at age 23 she is still sheltered by her mum, Uncle Jeryl and even her older seemingly indifferent brother Ken. At times in the book seems more like she is in her late teens! Personally I wouldn't have guessed she was as old as we are told within the book. I would have put her age at 19. She sulks and though she has a fairly safe steady paced life with all any one can hope for in these dire times by having "enough" food, "enough" wood, "enough" clothes and a large portion of her family with her. Lynn longs for change, she envisions travelling around the stark landscape and finding other survivors. Someone should have told Lynn to be careful what she wished for because whilst out setting traps she meets Jax, who at first seems innocent enough but as the book goes on we realise he has many hidden secrets that will draw dangerous people to him and anyone harboring him. Having said he is "trouble" he really is what Lynn needs, a fresh face, a new crush, someone who reveals that there are other survivors out there. A snap decision by Lynn almost costs her, her life when she gets stuck outside far from home in a snow storm. Then she is caught by a group of people claiming to be immunity. This is when we meet another character I really grew fond of Braylen, quickly even though she is only in the book for a short time. I honestly think in slightly different circumstances Braylen and Lynn could have been a long lasting friends living within the same community. Another character I have to mention who I instantly felt affection for was Ramsey, the son of Jeryl's best friend John-Henry. Ramsey is younger than Lynn and seems to still have a crush on her even though she doesn't appear to see him that way. So when Jax arrives on the scene Ramsey is naturally jealous of him and the friendship he rapidly builds with Lynn. I guess Ramsey also notices that Lynn shows Jax a lot of attention and seems to have a crush on him too.

I should give a small mention to the character I loved to hate which is Anthony Conrad, he certainly makes you think of the saying "keep your friends closer and your enemies even closer". Lynn and her mother’s instinct about him are proven justified.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I particularly enjoyed the sections from Lynn's point of view of what she misses from her "before life". Though the book does tend to jump about from what is happening in the present, things that happened in the near past and then the odd part from the farther back past. Once you get into the book this isn't a problem at all. I would have loved to have had the backstory of Lynn and her family travelling from Alaska to the Yukon revealing what horrors they saw, what they had to do to survive and how they coped dragging the animals with them. Maybe that could be told in a prequel? This book read well as a standalone but I really hope it's the beginning of a series.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that this book left me wanting more, much more! Please tell me it's the start of a potentially wonderful series!?

This is the debut of Tyrell Johnson and I have to say I want to read much more by this author! I found this book to be addictive reading, I hated having to put the book down! The mixture of genres within this book were brilliant, it had the post-apocalyptic landscape and way of life along the the genetic elements and the threat of the out of control flu virus. There's so much more to this book than I have revealed. I would have to say I would put this book up there alongside Year One by Nora Roberts. Yep! I enjoyed this book that much!

Looking for a fab dystopian read this month, then look no further than The Wolves of Winter.

I loved the descriptive detail in this novel, it really allows you to visualise the landscape and how Lynn and her family are living. I think it’s so important in dystopian settings to be able to create these visual images because they are the key to making the novel ‘come alive’ for the reader; I love being able to imagine how I would survive, could I survive, if it were me living in this post-apocalyptic world. I’ll admit, I did think the first half of this novel was a bit slow, but it was crucial in giving us an understanding of how life is now – how to hunt for food, how to keep warm in the layers of snow, and how to deal with your asshole neighbour!

Then Jax arrives and all hell breaks loose, the pace picks up, the intensity heightens, and the fight is really on! I love the action that took place in the second half of the novel, it had me gripped – what can I say, I love a bit of violence. I never like to go into too much detail about the events that happen in a novel because I always think it’s better to discover it for yourself but I will say, I love that there’s a cause for it all. It isn’t just nonsensical action and adventure, but it makes perfect sense; we come to understand how the world became what it is now and why Lynn and Jax are so important, and I found that really interesting.

I also really like the characters in this novel, they were so varied and distinct in their personalities; whether it’s Jax, Lynn, or even her mother or brother, I think everyone will find a character in this one they like just that little bit more than the others. For me, it was Jax, I really wanted him to survive, I liked the whole mysterious vibe he entered with and enjoyed learning more about his character; he has that calm and protective nature which I found really appealing.

Johnson knew what he was doing when he wrote this novel – the vivid imagery, the character creation, and a fierce determination to survive. With it’s fantastic ending, I would love to see a sequel, the ending is wrapped up, but I would love to see what’s in Lynn’s future. If you’re looking for a dystopian novel to excite then The Wolves of Winter is what you want to be reading.

https://lynns-books.com/2018/01/08/the-wolves-of-winter-by-tyrell-johnson/
I enjoyed The Wolves of Winter. Of course I enjoy post apocalyptic settings and seeing how the whole end of the world scenario plays out. Does this book bring anything new to the scene. Yes and no. I won’t deny that this is a familiar story, a world where what we fear most has come to pass. War followed by disease. The disease won. There are less people and the world we know is a distant memory. Forget all your little luxuries, forget things that you don’t think of as luxuries – that life has long gone.

What The Wolves of Winter does do differently is focus much more on a small family unit trying to survive in the cold vastness of the Yukon. We primarily follow a character called Gwendolynn (Lynn) McBride. Lynn lives in a tiny community consisting of her mother and brother, an uncle type character called Jeryl and a young man called Ramsey who Jeryl is responsible for. There is another settler called Conrad who, to be honest, is rather unpleasant and lives on the edge of their tiny homestead. Together they’re making a life of sorts – they hunt, they have a few provisions that they are very careful with and they grow potatoes and carrots as their staple food. It’s a living of sorts and they’re glad to be alive, out of the cities and in the cold where the flu is less likely to spread and take casualties.

Their tiny bubble is burst when a newcomer comes onto the scene. Jax and his dog (called Wolf). Jax is heading north, he doesn’t really desire to stop over but beggars can’t be choosers and with an injured leg and little food he takes up the offer of hospitality. This is when things start to change. Firstly in small ways. Lynn, who has been feeling the confines of her tiny world and longs for adventure becomes a little bit fascinated with this new arrival. He upsets the apple cart to say the least Ramsey is jealous of a new man appearing on the scene, Lynn’s family are hostile at first but soon come to enjoy the new addition and Jeryl longs for word of what’s happening out there in the world. Unfortunately these small changes are not the only changes that Jax’s arrival brings. He’s being followed by people from an organisation known as Immunity. Immunity have been around long before the flu virus broke out. They’re seeking a cure but their methods can be a little bit over zealous. They want Jax and are prepared to go to extreme lengths to secure their goal.

What I really enjoyed about The Wolves of Winter was the setting, the character Lynn and the writing.

I really liked the way that Lynn narrates the story and in fact I think she makes an excellent character. Through flashbacks you’re given an outline of her life before the changes. You’re given an insight into her family and how they came to travel to the Yukon after Lynn’s father fell foul of the flu. She has strong family bonds and yet you can feel her restlessness, the way she feels trapped herself – she longs for more and you know it won’t be long before she begins to test the boundaries. On top of that she’s no cowering ninny. She goes out hunting, has learnt to handle herself and a bow and arrow and isn’t afraid to take the initiative.

The setting itself is a wonderfully described place. A cold and hard environment to live in where blizzards can kill you if they catch you unaware. In terms of the writing it has a certain beauty to it. The descriptions of the wilderness and the snow are enough to make you feel the cold. I just really enjoyed the world described – I’m not saying I want to live there but the author does a great job of brining a picture vividly to mind.

In terms of criticisms – well, like I said above, this doesn’t really break the mould so if you’ve read other apocalypse type stories then this will undoubtedly feel familiar although like I said I like the smaller focus here. I think the characters surrounding Lynn, even Jax, were a bit two dimensional and needed more attention. Immunity felt a little obvious in the way they come across as the bad guys – which was a pity in a way. But, in spite of minor criticisms this was a good read. I loved returning to the story and although it took a little time to really get into the meat of the tale I actually enjoyed the set up and didn’t struggle with the pacing at all.

All in all I thought this was an enjoyable read and an impressive debut. I would definitely wish to continue with the series if the author intends to write more and in fact I think the ending would seem to suggest that there will be more to come.

I would just make a small mention here that at the start of the story and later on towards the end there are two scenes that could be upsetting to some readers. These scenes are not gratuitous but they could be triggers so please bear that in mind.

I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I received an e-ARC of The Wolves Of Winter by Tyrell Johnson from NetGalley in return for review consideration. Wolves, Johnson's debut novel, is dystopian fiction and will be published by HQ in the UK on 11th January 2018.

Before I discuss the book any further, I would note that the books needs a trigger warning for two distinct instances of sexual assault. The first instance, in particular, is early on and I found it very unexpected and quite upsetting. So please bear that in mind if you're interested in the book.

Onto the story. Gwendolynn, who goes by Lynn, lives in Yukon, Alaska. She and her family moved there after civilisation as we know it was devastated by war, and then by a virulent and deadly strain of flu. They've been isolated from whatever might remain of civilisation for seven years, but when a stranger, Jax, appears with his dog, Wolf, things start to change. The book follows Lynn as she starts to discover the state of the world outside their clearing, and that her family may know more about the flu than she ever imagined.

I'll start with the positives of this novel. The book is well-written. Johnson did an excellent job of bringing the Yukon to life for me. I'm fascinated by cold, snowy places (as someone who's mostly lived in the UK, it's not a climate with which I have much personal experience), and adding the additionally isolating nature of life in a post-apocalyptic society to a place that's already quite cut off only enhanced that.

I also enjoyed the dual nature of the ruin wrought upon the world. In most peri- and post-apocalyptic novels I've read, there tends to be one main cause of the disaster. However, in Wolves, the initial war starts the destruction, while the flu decimates the world's population and leaves the survivors paranoid and cut off.

Unfortunately, my opinion of the rest of the book is less positive. The story follows the same general progression as many of the YA dystopian novels with which people may be familiar - the main character believes themselves to be a 'regular' person, and later learns, usually after coming into contact with a potential romantic interest, that they are 'special' in some way, and Wolves doesn't deviate much from that path.

Lynn, the main character, didn't come across as particularly realistic for me. Although the character's age is given as twenty-three, she read more like a naive teenager to me. In part, that could potentially be justified as her having grown up in a very small, isolated group, with limited socialisation after the age of sixteen, when the family moved up to the Yukon. Johnson also frequently has Lynn refer to herself and other female characters, or other characters refer to Lynn herself, as 'girl' or 'girlie', which I think emphasised for me the disconnect between her character's stated age and how she actually comes across.

Outside of Lynn, there are very few other female characters in the story - Lynn's mother and a couple of women who appear later in the story are really all there is in terms of named characters. None of these characters are given much depth, nor is there much meaningful interaction between them and Lynn, particularly not when compared with her interactions with male characters. Combined with the frequent and often negative use of 'girl' and 'girlie' mentioned above, this is worrying sign for me, particularly when the book in question is written by a man. It echoes this old idea that women can't actually be friends with each other, and whilst the women in this book aren't fighting over a man (which is the typical situation where this behaviour is seen), they also aren't getting along. Please note, I'm not in any way saying that all books with female MCs must have them spending time with a band of female friends, taking names and overthrowing the patriarchy (though I would obviously read those books). However, I would expect female characters in any book to be treated with consideration and respect, rather than as stereotypes and clichés.

Another important character in the story is Lynn's dad, who has already died before the start of the book. Lynn frequently talks about her dad, how much she misses him, how much she wants to be able to see him again. Initially, this made me sympathetic towards her character. But after a while, particularly when combined with the frequent disparaging comments about women, and Lynn's poor relationship with her still-living mother, it end up emphasising the idea that, in the world of this book, men are inherently more interesting and better than women. Lynn is fixated on making her father proud and acting in his memory, rather than developing her own agency as a young woman, or trying to strengthen the relationship with her remaining parent, who seems to have done a pretty good job to date in keeping Lynn and the rest of their small community alive.

For all these reasons, I didn't particularly enjoy this book. I expect, from the ending of the book, that a sequel (or sequels) is (are) planned. I think, based on the quality of Johnson's prose, that I would be interested to read the second book in the series to see if some of the issues I had with the plot and characterisation of this one might be resolved. In the meantime, if you're super super keen on dystopian fiction and/or snowy locales, The Wolves of Winter may be of interest to you, but otherwise, it's unfortunately not a book I would recommend.

There are a large number of post-apocalyptic books on the market at the moment. I have to confess that they are fast becoming one of my favourite genres.

This is quite a simple post-apocalyptic book in the sense that we are several years down the line. We know about the nuclear explosion & the following flu but that is merely background. We don't actually live through the events or their recent aftermath. We meet Lynn and her family several years down the line. They are living in the remote Yukon eking out an existance in the snow and the cold in a small group of log cabins. That is until Jax enters their lives bringing with him the outside world & the "Immunity" who at first sight seem to be a sort of flu police. However, as things progress the reader and Lynn discover that things aren't as simple as they seemed and that there is a past that Lynn didn't know she had and can't escape from.

This is very obviously a book which is the first in the series. This came as a relief to me as I didn't see how the author could do justice to the plot in the space of one book. So be prepared for cliff hangers!

I enjoyed this book very much. The author has kept the back story quite simple and the reader is not bogged down with detailed descriptions of the apocalyptic events. This book is concerned with the here and now, how the world has arrived at this point is quite minor.

I loved the descriptions in this book. I could feel the cold in this Yukon winter. I could sense the despair in the bitter snow storms and the relentless hard work to keep going in such a remote part of the world.

The characters in this book are quite clearly defined. In the close community I got a real sense of how difficult the relationships were. Lynn and a young family friend, Ramsey, are the only unrelated male and female. What does the future hold for them as a community?What will the strangers bring with them? Will they destroy the close ties that bind the group or push them further together?

This is a well constructed book with a good plot and inderesting and well defined characters. I shall look forward to the next in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

Subtlety is what makes this an exceptional read. The dystopian element of the story is almost imperceptible, it unfolds slowly like flowers uncurling at the first sign of spring.

The solitude, the silence and the snow gives the story an aura of complete and utter isolation. The kind of isolation one would experience under normal circumstances in an area like that, let alone in the aftermath of a global disaster. Which is probably why the small community appears to be nothing more than a close-knit family unit living in the Yukon wilderness. Hence there being nothing unusual about Lynn hunting for her next meal, and going head to head with anyone who dares to cross her or her family.

Although it doesn’t seem to be a priority, they are all aware that they are part of the small group deemed survivors of the disaster that ravaged and decimated the entire population. Lynn is also acutely aware of being a young woman with only minimal choices when it comes to romantic partners or viable partners.

So the arrival of new blood in the area is the beginning of new emotions, new threats and Jax also brings the key to Pandora’s box with him. Lynn discovers something about herself and her past that will not only change her path in life, it also has the potential to change the lives of those around her.

Johnson has a knack for the minimalistic approach whilst creating vivid imagery, solid characters and the kind of story readers will want to follow to the end.

Hopefully readers won’t have to wait too long for the sequel to The Wolves in Winter, and yes there really needs to be one, because I need to know what happens next.

“The Wolves of Winter” by Tyrell Johnson

I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable and thrilling read.

The author, Tyrell Johnson, breathes life and vitality into his characters, especially our heroine, with his prose and dialogue; he makes every single word count, nothing is overly written, and his clarity of writing marries beautifully with the sparsity of his setting. Johnson has created a terribly brutal but wonderfully visual and, almost, cinematic landscape for his characters to inhabit.

The story takes places in a post-apocalyptic world following years of wars between rival nations, nuclear strikes and a flu-like pandemic which has decimated the world’s population. The main protagonist and our heroine, Lynn (Gwendolyn), is a feisty young woman struggling with her family to survive in a frozen wilderness. Their harsh lives are thrown into chaos with the arrival of Jax, an enigmatic stranger. Who is he and what are his motives? And who are the group of men who arrive soon after?

Lynn soon finds herself in a world of confusion and danger as her isolated life spirals out of control.

The writing is sharp and crisp and the characters are colourful, well drawn and believable. The plot fizzes along terrifically as the tension and drama builds to a suitably rewarding and satisfying conclusion.

This is a novel to loose yourself in and to enjoy from the warmth of your fireplace as the action escalates in the icy landscapes of Lynn's world.

One of my favourite reads of 2017. Bravo.

If the secret to great fantasy fiction is creating believable worlds, The Wolves of Winter is well ahead of the pack. The world is frozen, bleak and entirely immersive; the characters which inhabit it are original, alive and not shirking the huge challenges in a new USA where staying alive from day to day is all that counts. Lynn, the heroine, is a young woman who's adapted from 'normal' teenagehood by becoming an expert with a bow and arrow, hunting and trapping to put food on the family table, and she's almost content with the new status quo until Jax, an attractive but dangerous young man, steps in out of the cold. The whole book feels as if the reader has stepped over a border from the here-and-now into an entirely possible near-and-not-nice future. There's a strong storyline and plenty of action which would appeal to a Young Adult audience but I'm much older than that and I loved it.. A great story and a first-class read.

This is Lynn's story. She is currently living in the Canadian Yukon with her brother and her mother. There are just two other people in their immediate community. They are there because the world has been affected by apocalyptic events, first nuclear war and then a flu pandemic. Their existence is fragile and is about to become dangerous. A new person - Jax - arrives.

The scene is set. For me it is well set. In the first chapter we meet Lynn and the others there - one of the people from just outside their community is not pleasant. The setting itself quickly becomes an important part of this story. It is almost a character in itself and has a major influence on the whole book. The writing makes that setting vivid and real.

Lynn is now 23 but left the "old world" at 16. Time with her father excepted her memories of the old life are fading now.

I found this rather a "slow burn" initially. Lynn reflects on their situation, her old life and particularly time spent with her father. He was a biologist and died of the flu in Alaska after they had left the USA. By half way through at the latest I realised I had become completely engrossed in this story. There is a lightness of touch in the writing and even some humour in the dark situation. Lynn herself is an excellent character. Feisty and powerful at times, unsure and thoughtful at other times. Jax excepted she was the stand out character. Jax is someone we only get to know slowly but is certainly interesting.

The story gets progressively deeper and more satisfying too I guess. It also became steadily more and more gripping as well as more action packed. Not flawless maybe however I felt this was well written. Simple really - I really enjoyed reading this story. Lynn is a good character, the setting is good and the story is well told. I really would love to read another by this author