BOOK REVIEW - WINTER'S SHADOW by M.J. HEARLE - WINTER SAGA # 1

By: M.J. Hearle
Published By : Pan Macmillan
Released : Available Now
Details : Paperback, 424 Pages

RATING : 5 MYSTERIOUS BLAKE STARS!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

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.

BOOK REVIEW:

When I was reading Winter’s Shadow, I actually stopped for a pause and threw my arms in the air and yelled , ‘Hallelujah’....why? M J has brought something wonderfully refreshing to the YA genre, he has been very clever and thought up a new type of paranormal being and he keeps you guessing. There are different aspects of other paranormal characters that he has drawn on and moulded his own.

Blake Duchamp’s character is mysterious, haunting, a little dark/Gothicish, a little frightening. You feel how much he needs to keep his distance from Winter, yet he can’t. There is this ‘thing’ that starts between them at ‘Pilgrim’s Lament’.  This ‘thing’ simmers under the surface between them for a lot of the book.  It is no surprise they fall in love.

As the reader, I was very curious about Blake and felt very drawn to his character. I was racking my brain trying to figure out what he was. M J is very good at keeping that a secret, keeping us very intrigued to know more. The pages just kept turning, the mystery surrounding Blake ever present.

The story is told mainly in the NOW , but we go back in time to understand more of M J’s characters, their history. I loved this.

M J knows how to write a female lead, flawlessly. Winter Adams has no annoying traits. She is not a clone. She beats to her own drum. I love her mode of transport, Jessie. She uses ‘old school’ 35mm film, rather than digital. She has this retro feel about her character. She knows how to handle people very well, including her sister, Lucy. Harry the newspaper geek, although an annoying guy, Winter knew how to be the better person around him. I liked that. It’s no surprise that somebody like Blake came into her life as she isn’t the type of girl to go for the Jock type guy.

Then there are the cats. Lots of cats.........

I really enjoyed the sub characters and the ‘skivers’. They were important to the storyline. With Sam’s character description, I always knew he wasn’t just going to be the new dude at school. His description led me to believe that he was going to play an important role in the book. Not just eye candy.

DUE FOR RELEASE
MAY 1ST 2012

The story escalates to quite a climatic end that was quite emotional and I can’t wait for Winter’s Light to see where M J will take me. I hope Winter gets a new Nikon. I have my Minolta ‘old school’ and I love it.

I came a tad late to this party, and I am so glad I made it, after all late is fashionable. I highly recommend this wonderful male Aussie author.

If you know my reviews I don’t hand out 5 stars, easily, this is a wonderfully entertaining 5 star YA read that will keep you guessing. 

FAVE QUOTE:

‘Why would you ever choose to die?’

‘Because a life with no end, loses meaning. Death defines life. One day, I hope to find a good reason to die.’ 

Michelle