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Winter
Winter’s not your ordinary teenager.
While trying to rescue his Sidhe family from exile, he mistakenly unleashes the monstrous Dread Host upon humankind.
Winter’s mother wants nothing more than to find a way to break the curse keeping the Sidhe imprisoned on Manhattan. New York City is driving Winter’s father slowly mad. Winter’s sister wears Chanel and longs for a Fairy Court she’s never seen. And Winter’s mentor is a talking mouse.
Winter wants to save the world.
When he discovers an unlikely changeling lost in the subway, Winter realizes he’s been given a chance to finally banish the Host, and maybe even save his family. But the changeling isn’t quite what she seems, and Winter’s already unstable world begins to spiral out of control.
While trying to rescue his Sidhe family from exile, he mistakenly unleashes the monstrous Dread Host upon humankind.
Winter’s mother wants nothing more than to find a way to break the curse keeping the Sidhe imprisoned on Manhattan. New York City is driving Winter’s father slowly mad. Winter’s sister wears Chanel and longs for a Fairy Court she’s never seen. And Winter’s mentor is a talking mouse.
Winter wants to save the world.
When he discovers an unlikely changeling lost in the subway, Winter realizes he’s been given a chance to finally banish the Host, and maybe even save his family. But the changeling isn’t quite what she seems, and Winter’s already unstable world begins to spiral out of control.
301 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2013
3 people are currently reading
493 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 7, 2015
I used to read a ton of Fantasy but after a while I burned myself out on the genre and had to take a break. Since that was several years ago I’ve recently wanted to try getting back into the Fantasy world, I’ve missed it! So when the opportunity came along to be part of the blog tour for Winter I jumped at the chance. The idea of Urban Fantasy is new to me and I’m not as familiar with the Fay side of the Fantasy world so I was extremely intrigued to be trying something completely new and different with this book.
I completely fell in love with Winter, both the book and the boy :) Although the story alternates between the POV of several characters it was Winter’s voice I found so compelling and wanted more of. At nearly 18 years old Winter is no ordinary teen living an ordinary life, he is a fay living in D.C.’s underground Metro, guarding it against creatures that would enter our world through a rift and working with a human detective on cases that are possibly linked to magical elements. After accidently letting loose a monstrous dread host in New York Winter must race to save his family and the world.
Sara Remy has done an amazing job at creating a realistic fantasy world with fleshed out, complex characters. But don’t mistake this for your standard, run of the mill YA Fantasy because it’s not. This is dark fantasy at its finest, a fast paced ride full of dark suspense. This is book one in The Manhattan Exiles Series and the only thing disappointing to me is that I don’t already have book two in my hands! Winter is a spellbinding tale that I would highly recommend to both YA and Adult fans of the Fantasy genre. It’s a perfect read for ages 16 and up and as an added bonus, Winter’s voice makes this a perfect read for guys as well as girls!
Thank you to author, Sara Remy and to CBB Book Promotions for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I completely fell in love with Winter, both the book and the boy :) Although the story alternates between the POV of several characters it was Winter’s voice I found so compelling and wanted more of. At nearly 18 years old Winter is no ordinary teen living an ordinary life, he is a fay living in D.C.’s underground Metro, guarding it against creatures that would enter our world through a rift and working with a human detective on cases that are possibly linked to magical elements. After accidently letting loose a monstrous dread host in New York Winter must race to save his family and the world.
Sara Remy has done an amazing job at creating a realistic fantasy world with fleshed out, complex characters. But don’t mistake this for your standard, run of the mill YA Fantasy because it’s not. This is dark fantasy at its finest, a fast paced ride full of dark suspense. This is book one in The Manhattan Exiles Series and the only thing disappointing to me is that I don’t already have book two in my hands! Winter is a spellbinding tale that I would highly recommend to both YA and Adult fans of the Fantasy genre. It’s a perfect read for ages 16 and up and as an added bonus, Winter’s voice makes this a perfect read for guys as well as girls!
Thank you to author, Sara Remy and to CBB Book Promotions for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
January 6, 2014
I loved this book! It is a fast read and I was immediately drawn into the world of Winter! If you love Brian Jacques, you will love all of Sarah Remy's books! :-)
July 16, 2015
When I first saw the cover of ‘Winter’, I knew this was a book I wanted to read. I really fell in love with this book cover. It just looks magical to me and I couldn’t wait to start reading it. So when I got an email and learned I would be a part of the blog tour, I was super excited.
From the very first page ‘Winter’ is a book that grabs your attention. The strangest thing is, you don’t even get everything that’s going on in this book. There is a lot happening but the author doesn’t really explain it at the beginning. Slowly on, while reading this book you find out what is going on. Sounds weird? Yep, I know.. but this really made this book interesting. And it really makes you want to keep reading because you just want to know what is going on and why. This was definitely a unique part about this book.
What I also really liked about this book was the fantasy part. This story was interesting, unique and definitely well thought of. The characters are very interesting. And although all the different characters confused me at times, (I really can’t keep all those different names a part) it was fun to read about their friendships, families and their struggles with each other and their lives.
Although this book was really enjoyable I had some difficulties with it. I didn’t feel a connection to anyone of the characters. And there were some things I just didn’t really understand, and some stuff just stayed unexplained. I, for example, didn’t really get why humans and fey people didn’t really get along. There are still a lot of questions I would have liked to get an answer to.
On the other hand, Sarah Remy really did make sure I want to read her next book. I just need to learn more about this world and the characters.
This book was a fun and interesting read, which definitely never got boring.
From the very first page ‘Winter’ is a book that grabs your attention. The strangest thing is, you don’t even get everything that’s going on in this book. There is a lot happening but the author doesn’t really explain it at the beginning. Slowly on, while reading this book you find out what is going on. Sounds weird? Yep, I know.. but this really made this book interesting. And it really makes you want to keep reading because you just want to know what is going on and why. This was definitely a unique part about this book.
What I also really liked about this book was the fantasy part. This story was interesting, unique and definitely well thought of. The characters are very interesting. And although all the different characters confused me at times, (I really can’t keep all those different names a part) it was fun to read about their friendships, families and their struggles with each other and their lives.
Although this book was really enjoyable I had some difficulties with it. I didn’t feel a connection to anyone of the characters. And there were some things I just didn’t really understand, and some stuff just stayed unexplained. I, for example, didn’t really get why humans and fey people didn’t really get along. There are still a lot of questions I would have liked to get an answer to.
On the other hand, Sarah Remy really did make sure I want to read her next book. I just need to learn more about this world and the characters.
This book was a fun and interesting read, which definitely never got boring.
July 10, 2017
Absolutely Amazing
Great characters, fantasy at is mind bending best. You thought you had it bad?, its nothing once you meet Winter.
Get ready to be Amazed. 😎
Great characters, fantasy at is mind bending best. You thought you had it bad?, its nothing once you meet Winter.
Get ready to be Amazed. 😎
March 20, 2016
Winter by Sarah Remy took me by surprise. I haven’t read much urban fantasy and when it comes to fantasy, I don’t have much experience with fay folklore. It didn’t seem to matter much that I had little experience with either of these as the main focus of the story was on the arrival of Aine, who she was and what her arrival meant to the Manhattan Exiles.
The best part of the novel was that the author didn’t feel the need to share every bit of fay history. As the story moved along, bits and pieces of why the fay were stuck in our world were revealed when it was relevant to the plot. It wasn’t done with long winded explanations either. It was usually an off-handed comment which revealed that the exile wasn’t something that just happened yesterday and showed how characters really felt about each other.
While this approach worked for the overall history of this group of exiles, I did struggle that more of Winter, the main protagonist of the story, was not shared. I struggled to understand why he was in D.C. when his family was in Manhattan. What exactly did his fancy earbobs do? Why did he hate himself so much? Why are Gabby, Lolo and Richard even friends with him? There was a lot of backstory there that I felt I was missing to truly connect with the character.
It was the greater mystery that kept me reading Winter. The girl that emerged from the wall, Aine, shared my confusion regarding Winter and his crazy family (both his biological and adoptive families). While at first she seemed weak and whiny, as the story moved on, she became one of the strongest, most caring female characters in the book. Once she got her footing, she was determined to achieve her goal.
This novel would be for readers who don’t like a spoon-fed plot. Remy deftly hands out pieces of the Exiles history and only begins to reveal the psychology behind the actions of her troubled characters. This is a complex story where, at the end, not all is known and some readers might find that frustrating. For me, it was refreshing. I don’t mind open-ended plots when the story is well-written. Winter left me wondering if the characters will be able to overcome themselves as that seems to be their greatest obstacle. It made this urban fantasy seem real and alive.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
The best part of the novel was that the author didn’t feel the need to share every bit of fay history. As the story moved along, bits and pieces of why the fay were stuck in our world were revealed when it was relevant to the plot. It wasn’t done with long winded explanations either. It was usually an off-handed comment which revealed that the exile wasn’t something that just happened yesterday and showed how characters really felt about each other.
While this approach worked for the overall history of this group of exiles, I did struggle that more of Winter, the main protagonist of the story, was not shared. I struggled to understand why he was in D.C. when his family was in Manhattan. What exactly did his fancy earbobs do? Why did he hate himself so much? Why are Gabby, Lolo and Richard even friends with him? There was a lot of backstory there that I felt I was missing to truly connect with the character.
It was the greater mystery that kept me reading Winter. The girl that emerged from the wall, Aine, shared my confusion regarding Winter and his crazy family (both his biological and adoptive families). While at first she seemed weak and whiny, as the story moved on, she became one of the strongest, most caring female characters in the book. Once she got her footing, she was determined to achieve her goal.
This novel would be for readers who don’t like a spoon-fed plot. Remy deftly hands out pieces of the Exiles history and only begins to reveal the psychology behind the actions of her troubled characters. This is a complex story where, at the end, not all is known and some readers might find that frustrating. For me, it was refreshing. I don’t mind open-ended plots when the story is well-written. Winter left me wondering if the characters will be able to overcome themselves as that seems to be their greatest obstacle. It made this urban fantasy seem real and alive.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
July 15, 2015
I don't read a lot of Urban Fantasy, but I would definitely venture to put Winter into this category. And after reading it, I definitely wouldn't mind stepping into the genre more in the future! Plus, it is a story of the Fae, and that is always something I am up for. Winter hit the nail on the head, and I enjoyed it very much. While it did drag at times, the story was intriguing, the characters wonderfully developed, and the plot interesting.
I love the human world as seen by the fae in Winter. And when a Fae girl, Aine, is suddenly thrust into the mortal world, her eyes are opened to a place she never expected to see. And while she was understandable scared, she was tough and took a place in it rather than letting it beat her. Winter, our title character, was FANTASTIC. Tough, snarky exterior, but with a heart that wants nothing more than to protect those he loves, and right the wrongs of his past. He has a very unique disability, that intrigued me from the get go. I enjoyed learning more about this boy who holds the worlds on his shoulders. Richard, resident mechanic and all around awesome dude, and Lolo, the young dread-locked youngest of the crew, are humans friends of Winters, and they are like family, with the protection of a mouse named Gabby, who used to be a Fae woman. We meet many more characters as the story progresses, some Fae and some human, and they each add another layer to the story. Not a character is wasted.
What an interesting tale this was! From living underground, in forgotten train depots, to the poshest hotels in the Soho district, to Gloriana's fae world, Winter takes us on a heart stopping, nail biting adventure, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I very much look forward to continuing this story, and I hope we get the second book sooner rather than later.
Winter was truly a great read! I would have no problem recommending this one to anyone. It is on the darker side, so if that isn't your kind of thing, tread lightly. Otherwise, full steam ahead!
I love the human world as seen by the fae in Winter. And when a Fae girl, Aine, is suddenly thrust into the mortal world, her eyes are opened to a place she never expected to see. And while she was understandable scared, she was tough and took a place in it rather than letting it beat her. Winter, our title character, was FANTASTIC. Tough, snarky exterior, but with a heart that wants nothing more than to protect those he loves, and right the wrongs of his past. He has a very unique disability, that intrigued me from the get go. I enjoyed learning more about this boy who holds the worlds on his shoulders. Richard, resident mechanic and all around awesome dude, and Lolo, the young dread-locked youngest of the crew, are humans friends of Winters, and they are like family, with the protection of a mouse named Gabby, who used to be a Fae woman. We meet many more characters as the story progresses, some Fae and some human, and they each add another layer to the story. Not a character is wasted.
What an interesting tale this was! From living underground, in forgotten train depots, to the poshest hotels in the Soho district, to Gloriana's fae world, Winter takes us on a heart stopping, nail biting adventure, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I very much look forward to continuing this story, and I hope we get the second book sooner rather than later.
Winter was truly a great read! I would have no problem recommending this one to anyone. It is on the darker side, so if that isn't your kind of thing, tread lightly. Otherwise, full steam ahead!
August 21, 2015
Winter is a fresh and unique fantasy, that it just feels refreshing to read it. Yeah, it's dark, but I loved the way it stood out of the thousands of other fantasy books.
Winter is fey, who along with many others, have been banished from the fey court. So, now they live among humans and try not to go mad in the world so full of iron. Winter also mistakenly unleashes a dangerous species into this world. It's his duty to save the world from it, while finding a way into the Fairy Court. He lives in a tunnel in D.C. Metro, along with Lolo and Richard, who help him guard the city. Things take a turn, when Winter finds a girl in the wall, who has been from the Fairy Court.
The writing is beautiful, dark and mesmerizing. The alternating POVs only just made the story all the more interesting. The unique plot and engaging characters will attract the readers. Every character has some dark secrets and the thing is the author has made it interesting enough to care about all of them.
My only complaint is although the book is very big, I felt like I knew very few things answered when it ended. I agree this is a series and there may be more explanation in the coming books. But, some details would have satisfied me.
Anyway, I can't wait to get my hands on the second book. Definitely recommended for fantasy lovers!
4 STARS!
Winter is fey, who along with many others, have been banished from the fey court. So, now they live among humans and try not to go mad in the world so full of iron. Winter also mistakenly unleashes a dangerous species into this world. It's his duty to save the world from it, while finding a way into the Fairy Court. He lives in a tunnel in D.C. Metro, along with Lolo and Richard, who help him guard the city. Things take a turn, when Winter finds a girl in the wall, who has been from the Fairy Court.
The writing is beautiful, dark and mesmerizing. The alternating POVs only just made the story all the more interesting. The unique plot and engaging characters will attract the readers. Every character has some dark secrets and the thing is the author has made it interesting enough to care about all of them.
My only complaint is although the book is very big, I felt like I knew very few things answered when it ended. I agree this is a series and there may be more explanation in the coming books. But, some details would have satisfied me.
Anyway, I can't wait to get my hands on the second book. Definitely recommended for fantasy lovers!
4 STARS!
August 8, 2015
So this was a really fun read. Each time I get to read a fantasy genre I am reminded how much I have come to love these type of books, and Winter did not disappoint! Winter is a teenager living beneath the city, not because he is a runaway, but because he is exiled there after accidentally unleashing this crazy demon monster's from the fairy world through a portal. Winter is tasked with protecting the city from the demon monster's. On top of it he was punished by his Mother, who like many of the Sidhe were banished to Manhattan after losing favor with the fairy queen on the other side. Ok-really I probably do no justice in explaining this all. But that's, that.
Winter along with his mentor Gabby-a talking mouse, also one of the Sidhe banished to Manhattan and along with 2 human kids take on the strange and unusual crimes that often come with having Sidhe in the wrong world. That's how they come stumbling across the Changeling, and this is where the story really begins!
What a fun and twisted adventure this book will take you on, the story is so well woven that you almost believe that they all may just exist....in a scary world where things are not always as they seem and monsters may appear out of portals that is. I simply loved this story and will look for more from this author as my expectations for a great fantasy book where more then met with this one.
Winter along with his mentor Gabby-a talking mouse, also one of the Sidhe banished to Manhattan and along with 2 human kids take on the strange and unusual crimes that often come with having Sidhe in the wrong world. That's how they come stumbling across the Changeling, and this is where the story really begins!
What a fun and twisted adventure this book will take you on, the story is so well woven that you almost believe that they all may just exist....in a scary world where things are not always as they seem and monsters may appear out of portals that is. I simply loved this story and will look for more from this author as my expectations for a great fantasy book where more then met with this one.
September 30, 2013
I wanted to give this book five stars because it is the most unique book I've read in a long time. Winter's world is dark and intriguing, the main characters are complex and interesting, and the story is so original that I was hooked from the opening scene. I settled for four stars because, for me, the book's momentum faltered every so often as different characters picked up the narration. I would have preferred to stay with my favorite characters--Winter, Lolo, and Richard--because their voices were so compelling. Also, at the end of the book I found myself fretting over a number of unanswered questions. With so many different points of view, I expected one or more of the characters to give me deeper insight into Winter's secrets. But I have no doubt that my questions will be answered as the series progresses (the next book is scheduled for release in 2014), and I'm looking forward to spending more time in Winter's fascinating world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2016
Winter (The Manhattan Exiles) by Sarah Remy is a fast-paced read full of suspense from cover to cover. In this riveting story you’ll be immediately drawn into the world of the main protagonist as races against time to save the world and his family.
In Winter, Sarah Remy delivers a well-crafted and spellbinding story which is a mishmash of the paranormal, fun, fantasy and adventure populated by an assembly of fascinating characters. However, though it is a fun read, it incorporates a dark concept to add a touch of the paranormal to the story.
What is particularly likeable about the book is its originality. Often, reading a book reminds me a scene in another book but such images do not happen with Winter. The characters are quite a draw, and each of the main characters pulls you into the story. While the book is not without its shortcomings, I have the highest expectation that Sarah Remy will pull off a major winner in the near future.
In Winter, Sarah Remy delivers a well-crafted and spellbinding story which is a mishmash of the paranormal, fun, fantasy and adventure populated by an assembly of fascinating characters. However, though it is a fun read, it incorporates a dark concept to add a touch of the paranormal to the story.
What is particularly likeable about the book is its originality. Often, reading a book reminds me a scene in another book but such images do not happen with Winter. The characters are quite a draw, and each of the main characters pulls you into the story. While the book is not without its shortcomings, I have the highest expectation that Sarah Remy will pull off a major winner in the near future.
August 2, 2015
Never much of a urban fantasy reader but this well crafted entrancing book about a fae who helps the metro police and guards against creatures entering the DC had me from the moment we meet Winter.
Winter is amazing, entrancing, kind, fierce, snarky but has a heart of goal. Each character he surrounds himself be whether human or not he protects and loves fiercely as they are his family. He is designated to save everyone when a monstrous dead host enters NY by accident.
This is a dark fantasy that is fast paced and suspenseful. To me it was a cross of dark and gothic where we get the best of both. Winter is both light and dark and his kindness when first meeting Aine endeared me to him even more.
The book is written like layers of a dark gothic onion. As you read on the world unpeels and its layers are exposed and the book becomes more spell binding. A amazing enriching book that has you entered and wanting more.
Winter is amazing, entrancing, kind, fierce, snarky but has a heart of goal. Each character he surrounds himself be whether human or not he protects and loves fiercely as they are his family. He is designated to save everyone when a monstrous dead host enters NY by accident.
This is a dark fantasy that is fast paced and suspenseful. To me it was a cross of dark and gothic where we get the best of both. Winter is both light and dark and his kindness when first meeting Aine endeared me to him even more.
The book is written like layers of a dark gothic onion. As you read on the world unpeels and its layers are exposed and the book becomes more spell binding. A amazing enriching book that has you entered and wanting more.
March 21, 2014
Winter is a well-written, fun fantasy adventure story. The cast is full of intriguing characters. Fantasy is not my usual genre, and I found some parts confusing, which is why I am only giving this three stars. Still, I was pulled along to try and solve the mysteries of the story, all the while rooting for the characters. This is not a light and fluffy story, but real life isn’t often light and fluffy. The young characters deal with real consequences to their actions, as they strive to rise above.
December 28, 2013
*I got an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love this book. Winter, a teenage boy accidentally unleashes a monsterous Dread Host. It's full of suspense. A great choice of names too. A must read for everyone!
I love this book. Winter, a teenage boy accidentally unleashes a monsterous Dread Host. It's full of suspense. A great choice of names too. A must read for everyone!
April 29, 2014
Interesting! The author keeps the reader guessing throughout.
March 9, 2014
This was really intriguing with plenty of twists. I can't wait for the 2nd book.
June 16, 2015
Review to come.
July 10, 2015
4.5 stars Review coming 7/10/2015.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews