“That’s how I first heard Winter. Her words fell lightly into my head as I lay there, soft and enchanting like the snow gathering just outside on the ground.”

Ms. Dittemore has created a solely unique and complex world in Winter, White and Wicked; one that is quite unlike any I’ve read before. The synopsis says it’s Mad Max: Fury Road meet Frozen but it’s really so much more. The island of Layce has been cursed by the spirit Winter, a cunning spirit who has manipulated and beguiled her way into an eternal winter.  It’s a brutal world full of the magical dust Kol – deadly and crazy-making to most, Winter-made abominations that will tear you limb from limb and a ruling Majority that keeps the people down. 
Sylvi is the main character and favored by the spirit Winter. Winter speaks often to Sylvi and has since she was a child, has even saved her from a vicious attack but does Winter really care about Sylvi or are there more wicked reasons for her favor at heart? Sylvi is well-known for her truck driving skills and would rather be off running her truck, the Dragon, in solitude than anywhere else. She doesn’t know who her parents are but was taken in by a man and his granddaughter, Lenore (Leni), after she was found in the woods by Leni. This is the only family she knows. When Leni decides to run off and join the Rebels fighting the Majority, Sylvi makes the choice to team up with a notorious smuggler, Mars Dresden and his team to make the treacherous trip to save Leni. 

WWaW is non-stop, high-octane action in a world full of danger! I loved how the general feelings of mistrust eventually grew in to something more between some of the characters. This is one of my favorite tropes! Also, this is a strongly character driven plot, another favorite! Every character is well-developed and emotive, I am invested in them all and I know there has to be a sequel because the ending just left me wanting more. More of the characters, more of this world, more of the story!

I highly recommend this if you enjoy unique fantasy with dystopian elements!

The title and cover of this book caught my attention, and then when I read the description, "Mad Max meets Frozen" I was doubly intrigued. 

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one, but Shannon Dittemore has created a dark fantasy wonderland full of imaginative lore and icy scenery. The entire book was action-packed and the main character Sylvi is one of those characters that sticks with you for a long time after you've read the book.

Winter White & Wicked takes the YA trope of going on a journey or quest to save the world, & twists it into something fresh & original, using nothing but an ice-rig & a badass driver! I absolutely loved travelling through this wintery world in the warm cab of Sylvi’s Dragon, especially when facing danger over & over again, & the author did a fantastic job of telling a great story whilst mostly confined to a very small setting. I also loved the bitterness of the magic in this world & the brutal history uncovered throughout the book. I never wanted to put my kindle down whilst reading this story & I could have continued travelling with Sylvi & company for days & days. I’m so excited about this series because it feels so fresh & mysterious, & I cannot wait for more people to get caught up in Winter’s magic!

⚠️ This book contains addition, violence, torture, murder, kidnap, gun use, fighting/killing animals (wolves), a form of slavery & death of family members. There is also one scene including, & a few passages describing of the memory of, an attempted rape of a child, which her guardian allows. ⚠️

I rounded up, but my review sits at 3.75 .// 5

This one is hard to put into words because there was a lot about this book I liked, but there was also a lot that I didn't like. I enjoyed the magic system and history of this world, especially with the Winter entity. I thought the history was portrayed well and we get a good idea of how the different cultures view their creation. I liked how the characters had different interpretations of the events that happened in the past and the ones happening in front of them. It added depth to our story besides "Winter is an evil spirit" and "Winter is a blessed one".

What I didn't like so much was all the information about trucks/cars/rigs that I had no idea what was going on. The premise is that she's hauling something across the country to the rebels as her best friend left her to go be with them. The second the book started talking about the rig or anything related to her rig, I was absolutely lost. I know nothing about it and I got a little bored reading these scenes because besides crashing into something, I had no idea what was going on. 

Besides my ignorance to transportation, the fantasy element was really cool and I'm interested in what happens next! I think this could be a really cool fantasy series, but I want to see more moments of our characters fighting Winter rather than being used/using her. 

Either way, I like this book and I think even with my ignorance to how a rig works - this was a solid fantasy book. I can't wait for the next one!

Three  Stars: Good book, may read again

This is the first book by Shannon Dittemore I've read. When I learned that it had to do with semi trucks and a frozen fantasy world, I knew that it sounds like a book I'd enjoy. 
I didn't end up enjoying Winter, White, and Wicked as much as I had hoped to, but it still was a good book. I'm also trying to keep the fact that I read an e-copy of it, and I don't read e-books as well as paperbacks. I just don't get into the story as much.

What I Liked: 
First off, the world building in this novel is super extensive. The world feels larger than the book, which is great. You know that there is so much more of Layce to explore. Dittemore also has fleshed-out history and mythology fo the world, which she also ties skillfully into the plot, making them not just cool tidbits. There are also a number of different fantasy races, which was cool. I haven't really read of a race like the Shiv before, so that was neat. 
I also really loved the trucking elements. I have a soft spot for semi trucks because of family ties, so I loved seeing trucking in a story. I do wish that I had been a little more prevalent, but that's probably just a me thing. 

What I Didn't Like So Much: 
I have to admit, I was really, really surprised by the amount of language in this story. Most of the time, Christian authors don't write swearing, or will just do in-world swearing. Winter, White, and Wicked has both real and in-world swearing. I think there was about ten instances of swearing. There is also a in-world swear word that felt uncomfortably like a real, strong swear word, and poped up a number of times throughout the book. 
There were also a few instances of crude humor that didn't seem exactly necessary. Another thing for those who might care, Sylvi was raised by a prosititue, and a few things about her are mentioned. 
I did find it a little hard to stay in the story, but that might have been because I was reading an e-copy. As I mentioned at the beginning, I have a really hard time getting sucked into e-books, so that was probably due to the edition I was reading of Winter, White, and Wicked. 
The ending also felt a little too open. I know that Dittemore left it open on purpose, but I felt like the ending came too soon and there were a few more things that still should have been tied up. That too, though, could be because I read an e-copy, and you don't know exactly how many pages are left like you do when reading a paperback. So I may have not been aware that the ending was coming, if that makes sense. 

TRIGGER WARNING: 
There is a chapter involving assault. It is a hard scene to read. (I'm trying to write without spoilers here, so sorry if these sentences feel clunky). The adult who sees it does nothing about it, which is heartbreaking. The assault is stopped though by someone else. 
Dittemore handles the scene carefully, but it did feel harder to read than some other books I've read that also have a brief assault in them. 

Overall Thoughts: 
Winter, White, and Wicked is original from other books I've read. The worldbuilding is fantastic. I loved the trucking element. The cover is beautiful. 
However, there were some things I could have done without. If someone asks me about Winter, White, and Wicked, I will probably tell them that it feels very much like a regular, mainstream YA book, and you wouldn't know that it was written by a Christian author. 
Will I read it again? Probably. Will I read it again often? Probably not. Would I recommend it to someone? It's not on my top recommendations list, but if someone asks me about it, I'll tell that that it's a fine read but also give them a few caveats.

This book started out as one I was dying to read. But sadly upon starting it I couldn’t get into it. The story was too abrupt and confusing and the world building was oddly done. The characters weren’t developed well enough for me to grasp them either. I’m sad to say that this story wasn’t one for me.

"She dreamed aloud of boarding a ship and sailing away from Layce to a land where the skies were always blue and the unveiled sun turned faces warm and brown."

The world building in this book was amazing. It matched the setting of the book so wonderfully that I found myself feeling as if I was in the cold, icy, frozen land right along with Sylvi.

There was so much action and I loved every minute of it. The obstacles that Sylvi and Mars had to face made it hard to stop reading at certain points. There were a few chapters where the pacing slowed down at bit and I was waiting for it to pick back up again, which fortunately it did.

I found the characters in this book intriguing and mysterious. I couldn’t wait to figure out more about Sylvi and her connection to Winter, but I found her to be a bit annoying at times. There were points in the story where I was ready for her to be strong and “fight” but she seemed to always back down and choose to run away instead. The book ended with so many openings for a second book so I’m hoping to see Sylvi grow and embrace her fury, to help her become stronger which would make an amazing character arc.

Besides that and the lack of romance (which is always my favorite part of a book) I really enjoyed this book and I can see this being a pretty amazing and unique series.
3.5/5 ✰’s

I thought the book had a slow start, and it was a little hard to follow the legends at the beginning of the book.  As I continued reading, I did want to know what was going to happen, and which legends were true.  Some of the plot was confusing and hard to follow, but the mystery surrounding the Winter spirit made me want to read more to find out what happened.

"Winter's more than words and wind. She's a chill that clings to everything. She's power. And, like all great powers, she likes her companionship recognized. If she's talking to you, you'll know."

"The children of Layce are told not to dwell on the past, yes? .... In contrast, we Paradyians are told not to promise the future"

Oh my gosh the ending was everything and it made the entire book.I didn't even realize the story had been heavily foreshadowing the entire time, but it all makes sense looking back. I love stories that can do this.

I fell in love with these characters, but I especially loved the world.

Sylvi has grown up with the spirit Winter as her companion and friend. Winter can be both kind and cruel, casting the island into eternal winter. Sylvi must team up with her nemesis Mars, who is in constant battle against Winter, in order to bring her runaway sister back.

The story drops you in the middle and brings the reader along a cold and snowy journey with almost non stop action, yet enough heartfelt and character developing moments to draw the reader further into the story as Sylvi tries to contend with her benevolent feelings towards Winter and the hardships Winter causes on the road.

Thanks to the publishers and #Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Unique and interesting story. It took me a bit to get into it but I enjoyed it once I started. Not my normal type of read but still a good one. Thank you netgalley.

Sylvi's island was plunged into eternal winter and despite the struggle's, she's created a (somewhat) comfortable life for herself.

She has her own "rig" which she transports various cargo across the wintery mountains/landscapes and despite lacking stability, she's always had something to fall back on. 

She has the companionship of "Winter" - a spirit which will sometime grant Sylvi blessings as she crosses treacherous terrain and will also sometimes makes Sylvi deal with even harsher conditions.

 Sylvi's adopted sister (Sylvi lost her original parents, and then her adoptive one) is with the rebels and Sylvi knows no good will come of that. 

When Mars Dresden - a rebel sympathizer - contacts Sylvi to deliver essential supplies, she agrees in order to have him pull her sister out of the camp. 

Together they make a mad dash across the frozen landscape - running into plenty of wild (and crazy) people - from half-human half-rock to barely human at all. They get captured, fight to escape and run like their lives depend upon it. 

Will they make it in time? Will they make it at all?  

I thought this one was fast-paced and exciting. 

The constant running and driving provided plenty of action. Some of the characters felt a bit weak and the worldbuilding did skip around a bit so I felt like I was stumbling to catch up at parts. 

However, I do like the relationship she has with the Winter Spirit and the myriad of side characters were definitely fascinating. I think this one would be a little out there but ultimately a good pick for a book club or for a fun, new read.

I really enjoyed this book. I was worried about it because of some reviews I read but, all in all, I give it 4 stars! I'm looking forward to the next books release!

Thank you for the ARC Netgally.

I receive an eArc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First, that cover. Holy smokes it is stunning and it is what caught my eye. Second, the premise. While I’ve never seen Frozen (I will probably go to my grave no having seen that movie…), the promise of a Mad Max: Fury Road story is what sold me. How has there not been a story with this type of set up done? Maybe it has been and I’ve overlooked it, who knows, but what I do know is this story was phenomenal.

I was afraid I would struggle with this one as it’s a fantasy but it was brilliantly done. This story held nothing back as it was non-stop action from the very start. Full of complex characters, mythical creatures, ancient legends, mysterious secrets, and a lush magical world, this story was the entire package.

I want to talk about so many things that happened in this one as I enjoyed it so much, but I promise I won’t spoil anything. In one last ditch effort to hook you on wanting to read this powerhouse, I’ll leave you with these thoughts: some people are made of stone, some people can control Winter, Winter is a vicious foe, battle ready wolves, monsters that make themselves out of random body parts, and a flower that becomes addictive when burned and it drifts through the air. Curious yet? This author was far more morbid than I realized and I loved it. I absolutely enjoyed ever single second of this thrill ride. I cannot wait to read the next book.

The word I would use to describe this book is strange. The world is utterly unique as well as the legend it's built upon. The plot is also strange. It's a destination plot: the whole plot is basically how Sylvi gets from point A to point B and all she learns on the way. I thought it was interesting to read about a character who chooses flight over fight and has a special connection to the season Winter. But the whole book just felt strange. I couldn't ever get comfortable with the plot, the legend/world, and the characters.

Trigger Warning: child sex abuse/attempted rape

Lightening paced action and adventure will keep readers on the edge of their seats in Winter, White, and Wicked by Shannon Dittemore. 

Sylvi is an orphan young woman twice orphaned, who hauls goods on her rig across a snowy wasteland. Raised on an island known as Kayce, she finds solace alone in her truck, with Winter as her companion. Out on the roads, no one asks who her parents were, and no one comments on the growing rebel force in the north.  

The story jumps into the mix straight off the gate, dropping readers into a snow-covered, legend filled, and magical world. This immediacy leaves room for confusion as Dittemore does her best to explain the slang and the magic system. To some readers, this might be off-putting, while others will find the weaving of the story as expeditious as the plot. 

When Sylvi and her long-time friend, Lenore, have a tiff, Sylvi escapes to her truck for one last delivery. But it will not be the last thing she hauls across the dangerous ice. Lenore, she finds upon returning, has left to join the rebels, and to get her back, Sylvi will join ranks with a smuggler to haul one last load of cargo for the infamous smuggler, Mars Dresden.

At this point, readers learn that Winter acts like an element to be manipulated by incantations. Mars Dresden is a man who can wield Winter, and we soon find out that so too can Sylvi. There is a touch of tedium to Sylvi's constant, adamant denial of her power to manipulate Winter. Still, Sylvi is a fierce female character with a well-rounded arc.  

Winter, White and Wicked has a lot to unpack. People made of stone, drugs, rangers, totalitarian government, majestic wolves and monsters made from body parts are just a glimpse into the madness that Shannon Dittemore unveils. The comparison of Frozen meets Mad Max: Fury Road is pretty accurate. Filled with bountiful action and dynamic, layered characters, Winter, White and Wicked may be flawed, but it's one hell of a ride.

Winter, White and Wicked is a unique story. It’s about a truck driver named Sylvi, who accepts a job from a smuggler in order to rescue her friend who had run away to join a rebellion. When this book was pitched to me, it was Mad Max meets Frozen and I fully endorse this pitch. 

Sylvi is an incredible character. She’s fierce, confident, and smart. I loved her relationship to Winter and the other characters. The one issue that I have, which I feel is minor compared to the overall story, is that the initial few chapters are a bit of an info-dump. It was a little overwhelming, but once I got a grasp on the world-building and terms, I found the world to be super interesting and unique.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Love it! The writing, characters, and plot are fabulous and edgy! This is going in the library for sure!

Summary:
A YA Fantasy that tells a story about a young rig driver, Sylver Quine, a twice orphaned that loves to haul merchandise to different places and keeps a low profile. Until then, her sister, Lenore, leaves to join the rebellion is when Sylvi works with Mars, Kyn, and Hyla to haul for Mars and get Lenore back.  Throughout the journey, Sylvi begins to find out more of her past: her relationship with Winter (an icy spirit that helped her since she was young(, getting to know her three companions, and among other things.  There will be a time where she will have to decide whether she will try to keep a low profile and live the life she has been living, continue to favor Winter, or begin a whole new chapter in her. life that will change so many lives forever. 

Review:
This is a great read for those that love fantasy and a good YA read.  Throughout the book, the suspense of not knowing the main characters past and is slowly unraveling has the reader curious to know more.  Providing uniqur words in the story with good understanding of them helps a lot (Rhyme) and I enjoyed knowing them without any diversions from the story.  Looking forward to reading more about Sylvi and how she will help others fight their freedom.

When I read that it was being compared to mad max meets frozen I was sold. I never thought I would ever see a book like that but I did this book was amazing I loved the story line and the characters also the cover is absolutely beautiful I’m obsessed I recommend any YA lovers pick up this book you won’t regret it

Thank you to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for providing a free copy for review.

First, let me say that this cover grabbed me immediately.  The book description sold the deal, but I could not pass up the stunning artwork and I’m glad I didn’t.  Winter, White and Wicked is a daring ride that will get your heart pumping and give you chills at the same time.

Dittemore has created a complex fantasy world imbued with diverse peoples, treacherous magic, and enchanting legends.  Unfortunately, the initial “data dump” in the prologue failed to convey the elaborate histories in a clear and concise manner.  It would have been far more successful to pick up bits and pieces throughout the story as the truth was uncovered.  Needless to say, I could have done without the entire prologue and this might have been a five star read for me.

At the start of Chapter One, the catalyst has already occurred and we are thrown (a bit jarringly) right into the journey.  Aside from this abrupt beginning, the pacing of this book is great.  There are just enough heart-warming, soul-searching, calm-in-the-storm moments between the action scenes for readers to catch their breath.  Just as I’d begin to relax, another adventure would begin.  By the end of the journey, I felt like I’d run the whole route rather than merely tagging along in the Sylver Dragon with Sylvi and the gang.

The MC Sylvi is exactly the kind of YA protagonist I love: a take-no-shit, independent young woman, who pushes through hard times and comes out stronger on the other side.  Her connection to Winter is beautiful in it’s simplicity.  It is fascinating to see the development of this relationship through memories and the transformation brought on by outside sources.

I was immediately drawn to Mars Dresden and the gang.  Though each was vastly different from the others, I could feel the kinship of their team from the very beginning.  Mars drove me nuts in the best way.  His stubborn refusal to play nice with Winter was both frustrating and comical.  Hyla is the best femme warrior ever and I want her on my team.  Her straight-forward attitude made her instantly likeable and her foreigner’s naivete provided many welcome opportunities for clarification.  At first, I found Kyn to be too happy-go-lucky.  I’m glad that we got a deeper look into his emotions.  By the end, I was just as connected to Kyn as I was to Sylvi.

There are so many ups and downs on this journey.  It’s grungy, beautiful, tragic, and funny.  There’s violence, but there is also love.  This story touches on many different themes including overcoming prejudices and blind belief and discovering self worth and responsibility.  Winter, White and Wicked is sure to appeal to many YA fantasy readers and highly recommend it to those seeking an exciting new series.  I eagerly await the next installment.