Winter's Shadow - M.J. Hearle

Winter's Shadow (Winter Saga #1) - M.J. Hearle
Grade: YA
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger. Himself. (Description from Goodreads)


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I know everyone says "never judge a book by its cover" but I have to admit I'm always drawn to pretty covers, and Winter's Shadow most definitely has a pretty cover. The striking red hair just drew my attention from the moment I saw it and I was excited to read this novel.

It's love at first sight when Winter spies Blake outside a crumbling church. Unfortunately, Blake isn't what he seems and Winter finds herself in the middle of a thousand year old war. But that's not the only thing Winter has to worry about. When Blake saves her life on that fateful first day, it starts a chain of events and now there are "things" after Winter and they won't stop hunting her until they get her soul.

This book was mostly about building Winter's world. Strange things happen and it isn't until 3/4 of the way through that you start to get some answers. This is helped by having chapters set in the past, as they give a glimpse into "what" Blake is, and how things came to be.

I'll admit I did find myself getting a little freaked out at times. The start reminded me of a scene from the movie Final Destination (a movie which scared me as a kid), and then there are these "things" that reminded me of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode (and of course it was the one episode that gave me nightmares).

Winter's Shadow is a tale of love and loss. There's enough action and fright to keep me completely engaged and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Kerrie

A big thank you to Pan Macmillan for the review copy.