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Winter Shadows
There is nowhere to hide from evil. It's everywhere. Winter Shadows is a coming-of-age story following Claire, a young lady who is struggling to find her place in the world after losing her mother to cancer. After a corrupt American government declares a pandemic and forces its residents into quarantine encampments, Claire and her father, along with other members of her church and community, go into hiding in a cave system in rural West Virginia. While coping with the losses of her mother, home, friends, sense of safety and normalcy, Claire begins to pick up the pieces of her past, finding a new normal despite the darkness that surrounds her. While adjusting to a new environment, and the group of people she finds herself surrounded by, Claire is faced with several important decisions that will influence the path her life will take. Who can she trust? Who should she love? How can she survive? Forced to choose between Ethan's steadfast, mature love for her and the love of mysterious and dangerous Colin who appears, Claire learns the difference between infatuation and love. Claire finds herself by learning to bind together with those around her in order to survive. She becomes self-reliant and strong. Despite of her newfound confidence in herself, and the isolation in which she resides, evil is able to find its way to her. While fighting against it, she reestablishes her faith in God and opens her heart to the possibility of love.
184 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2013
1 person is currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Casey L. Bond
61 books1,677 followersRONE Award-winning author Casey Bond lives on a rural farm in West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. She writes phoenixes – gloriously flawed and morally gray characters that fiercely rise from the ashes of their circumstances.
Worldbuilding is one of her favorite pastimes. She thinks thunderstorms are better than coffee and that watching a meteor shower is the closest thing to magic you might ever see. She’s a firm believer that every amazing book needs a world you want to wrap yourself in, a character you want to win, and a love you would fight for.
Casey is the author of When Wishes Bleed, Gravebriar, House of Eclipses, and Where Oceans Burn.
@authorcaseybond on social media sites.
Worldbuilding is one of her favorite pastimes. She thinks thunderstorms are better than coffee and that watching a meteor shower is the closest thing to magic you might ever see. She’s a firm believer that every amazing book needs a world you want to wrap yourself in, a character you want to win, and a love you would fight for.
Casey is the author of When Wishes Bleed, Gravebriar, House of Eclipses, and Where Oceans Burn.
@authorcaseybond on social media sites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 8, 2013
It's my book...so, I am in love with it! :)
January 21, 2015
I would like to start by clearing up that I liked this book; I think it has lots of potential, but I was a little disappointed in how the plot unraveled. That is why my actual rating would’ve been 3.5 stars, but that is not a thing.
Winter Shadows by Casey Bond is a coming of age dystopian novel, which follows Claire, a nineteen year old girl, and her family, who are compelled to run away in order to escape the government that is transferring everyone into quarantine camps and burning their possessions to get rid of an alleged pandemic.
The plot starts really promising. I got hooked straight from page one because the story had a good amount of mystery and suspense going on. But as soon as the characters get settled in the cave, the story starts to slow down, and I thought a little action was missing, though it didn’t bother me much because it felt like the calm before the storm; and it was. Things got more interesting with the arrival of new characters, especially one who was a real psychopath. The problem was right up until the end in the last two or three chapters. So far the story was building up really well, it was real and I liked the characters, but the sudden turn of events where a huge turn off. The story was set in America, in a near future, and the main difference with the society we know was that the government had deprived citizens from the freedom they were used to in order to protect them from an alleged pandemic. Up until this point the story made absolute sense, but in the end, the solution or explanation the author chose for the actions of the government didn’t seem to fit together with the story. It was like the author was in a rush to finish the story so she came up with this idea, which was more suited for a fantasy novel. This is the main reason for my rating; I was disappointed with the ending. But I did appreciate that everything was tied together not leaving any loose ends.
I really cared for the characters. They sort of grew into me and I really loved the fact that I believed their religiousness. I’m not much into Christian fiction, but I think that in the story it worked because it was just an aspect of the characters and not the center of the story, and it was coherent and consistent with the way they behaved.
The descriptions were good. They gave you just enough information for you to place the characters in the correct setting. I actually thought that the caved they lived in was beautiful; I could really see the different spaces that opened up inside the cave, and how they’d organized everything to make the best of their situation. I always appreciate when you feel like you are there with the characters and this was no exception.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the changes in the point of view. It came out as a surprise to me when the POV changed for the first time, nevertheless they were very clear and there was no way of getting confused of which character was telling the story now. It really gave an extra something to the story, especially because the only way to understand everything that was happening was to see it through the point of view of different characters.
To sum up, It was a good book that I enjoyed 99% of the time. I think Casey Bond has a real potential in storytelling, and I would definitely expect great things from her.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
Winter Shadows by Casey Bond is a coming of age dystopian novel, which follows Claire, a nineteen year old girl, and her family, who are compelled to run away in order to escape the government that is transferring everyone into quarantine camps and burning their possessions to get rid of an alleged pandemic.
The plot starts really promising. I got hooked straight from page one because the story had a good amount of mystery and suspense going on. But as soon as the characters get settled in the cave, the story starts to slow down, and I thought a little action was missing, though it didn’t bother me much because it felt like the calm before the storm; and it was. Things got more interesting with the arrival of new characters, especially one who was a real psychopath. The problem was right up until the end in the last two or three chapters. So far the story was building up really well, it was real and I liked the characters, but the sudden turn of events where a huge turn off. The story was set in America, in a near future, and the main difference with the society we know was that the government had deprived citizens from the freedom they were used to in order to protect them from an alleged pandemic. Up until this point the story made absolute sense, but in the end, the solution or explanation the author chose for the actions of the government didn’t seem to fit together with the story. It was like the author was in a rush to finish the story so she came up with this idea, which was more suited for a fantasy novel. This is the main reason for my rating; I was disappointed with the ending. But I did appreciate that everything was tied together not leaving any loose ends.
I really cared for the characters. They sort of grew into me and I really loved the fact that I believed their religiousness. I’m not much into Christian fiction, but I think that in the story it worked because it was just an aspect of the characters and not the center of the story, and it was coherent and consistent with the way they behaved.
The descriptions were good. They gave you just enough information for you to place the characters in the correct setting. I actually thought that the caved they lived in was beautiful; I could really see the different spaces that opened up inside the cave, and how they’d organized everything to make the best of their situation. I always appreciate when you feel like you are there with the characters and this was no exception.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the changes in the point of view. It came out as a surprise to me when the POV changed for the first time, nevertheless they were very clear and there was no way of getting confused of which character was telling the story now. It really gave an extra something to the story, especially because the only way to understand everything that was happening was to see it through the point of view of different characters.
To sum up, It was a good book that I enjoyed 99% of the time. I think Casey Bond has a real potential in storytelling, and I would definitely expect great things from her.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
November 6, 2014
4 Stars Winter Shadows By Casey Bond
I was given an ARC book for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
This story has 3 different peoples POV. These are my favorite type of books to read, simply because you get to see what is happening from 3 separate angles.
This book is a Christian paranormal romance story and starts off with Claire's POV. You will follow her mostly throughout the whole story.
This book will switch between Claire, Ethan, who is a family friend, and Colin, who is an outsider to main cave dwellers in the story. I took off part of a star simply because when Ms. Bond switched between the POV's it was hard to know whose eyes you were looking through next. I believe she should have put who was telling the story at the beginning of each chapter so the reader could follow it easier.
In Winter Shadow Claire and a few of people from their church find they need to go in hiding. They travel to a secret cave so that the government will not find them and put them in a camp to kill them. The government is rounding almost everyone they suspect is infected with this virus (only in the US) and killing them off. I hate to say it but it remind me of the German concentration camps.
When traveling to the cave Claire is reminded about how much she misses her mother and how she blames God for all that has happened and is to come. Claire and her father and friends are in this cave that they have outfitted with food, beds and a whole bunch of needs for years to come if needed. They also learn to hunt and fish so they can provide protein for their daily needs. One day she goes fishing by herself and comes face to face with a bear. A stranger comes out of no where and kills the bear, this stranger, Colin, says he can read her thoughts including everyone around her in the cave. For some unknown reason and she befriends him. Needless to say the people in the cave do not like Colin when he is finally introduced and you will have to read this book for yourself to find out if you will like him too. Ethan loves Claire and Colin comes to love Claire...oh what is a girl to do?
The book does have a HEA but who does Claire choose? Is Colin Government? Is anyone in the cave infected? What does being infected really mean? Will she find her faith and trust God again in the end?
I also took off the rest of the star because at the end when the HEA comes Ms. Bond tells how quickly things went back to normal and how they had to live until the infected were treated and then everyone was happy. I wished for more of an explanation to the ending and how the cave dwellers came to their HEA so quickly. I would also like to see a second book out of this and maybe not rush everything so much. Personally rushing an ending does not bode well for me as that is one the best parts of a book, seeing how things turn out.
I was given an ARC book for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
This story has 3 different peoples POV. These are my favorite type of books to read, simply because you get to see what is happening from 3 separate angles.
This book is a Christian paranormal romance story and starts off with Claire's POV. You will follow her mostly throughout the whole story.
This book will switch between Claire, Ethan, who is a family friend, and Colin, who is an outsider to main cave dwellers in the story. I took off part of a star simply because when Ms. Bond switched between the POV's it was hard to know whose eyes you were looking through next. I believe she should have put who was telling the story at the beginning of each chapter so the reader could follow it easier.
In Winter Shadow Claire and a few of people from their church find they need to go in hiding. They travel to a secret cave so that the government will not find them and put them in a camp to kill them. The government is rounding almost everyone they suspect is infected with this virus (only in the US) and killing them off. I hate to say it but it remind me of the German concentration camps.
When traveling to the cave Claire is reminded about how much she misses her mother and how she blames God for all that has happened and is to come. Claire and her father and friends are in this cave that they have outfitted with food, beds and a whole bunch of needs for years to come if needed. They also learn to hunt and fish so they can provide protein for their daily needs. One day she goes fishing by herself and comes face to face with a bear. A stranger comes out of no where and kills the bear, this stranger, Colin, says he can read her thoughts including everyone around her in the cave. For some unknown reason and she befriends him. Needless to say the people in the cave do not like Colin when he is finally introduced and you will have to read this book for yourself to find out if you will like him too. Ethan loves Claire and Colin comes to love Claire...oh what is a girl to do?
The book does have a HEA but who does Claire choose? Is Colin Government? Is anyone in the cave infected? What does being infected really mean? Will she find her faith and trust God again in the end?
I also took off the rest of the star because at the end when the HEA comes Ms. Bond tells how quickly things went back to normal and how they had to live until the infected were treated and then everyone was happy. I wished for more of an explanation to the ending and how the cave dwellers came to their HEA so quickly. I would also like to see a second book out of this and maybe not rush everything so much. Personally rushing an ending does not bode well for me as that is one the best parts of a book, seeing how things turn out.
September 11, 2013
Like several other reviewers, I got a copy of this book from Casey in exchange for an honest review. Unlike many of them, my review of "Winter Shadows" is not going to be as positive. I do have to register my respect for Mrs. Bond, though; I asked if she truly wanted an honest review, even if it's a negative one, and she stuck by her word. Certainly, I appreciate that!
Let me start out this review by saying that I don't hate the book. Casey had an interesting story and a world that honestly could be used to launch a trilogy or the like. Some of the characters are solid, and for a first-time attempt, this wasn't horrible.
The problems that I have with it primarily stem from that clear lack of experience. Casey changes perspectives between three different characters with no clear cues to let the reader know that they've changed views, for example, and she has some jarring antecedent problems that sometimes cause confusion over who is being referred to. For example, when Claire doesn't know Colin's name, Claire always refers to Colin as "he," which means that there are a few times that she's talking to another male character and then her thoughts shift to 'him,' leaving the reader to sort out whom is being referenced.
In all honesty, a lot of other technical problems plague this book. "You're-your," run-on sentences, at least one instance of a capitalized word after a comma, and so forth and so on. That is the main reason why I rate this book as lowly as I do- whatever else I may feel about the book, I can't in good conscience rate it highly when so many errors remain.
Another problem that cropped up was the odd use of qualifiers. Casey uses "sort of" in many situations where it really doesn't fit. For example, people "sort of" fall, they "sort of" groan, and when tears are in their eyes, they look "sort of" sad. Similar qualifiers are frequently used, and while every author has their tic, this is one that makes me raise my eyebrow, since it doesn't really get across the point that she wanted to make.
I didn't rate up or down for this point, but I also felt like Casey had missed some of the potential of the story. I won't go into spoilers, but one of the major plot points of the story crops up, literally, in the last part of the book, coming almost out of nowhere and being resolved within a few pages. It's a great loss of potential, and the epilogue slams shut any of the drama that might have continued to play out in this book.
In the final analysis, I want to like this book, and if you can get past the errors, it's still a decent work of Christian fiction. I just can't call it a "good" read, in its current form.
Let me start out this review by saying that I don't hate the book. Casey had an interesting story and a world that honestly could be used to launch a trilogy or the like. Some of the characters are solid, and for a first-time attempt, this wasn't horrible.
The problems that I have with it primarily stem from that clear lack of experience. Casey changes perspectives between three different characters with no clear cues to let the reader know that they've changed views, for example, and she has some jarring antecedent problems that sometimes cause confusion over who is being referred to. For example, when Claire doesn't know Colin's name, Claire always refers to Colin as "he," which means that there are a few times that she's talking to another male character and then her thoughts shift to 'him,' leaving the reader to sort out whom is being referenced.
In all honesty, a lot of other technical problems plague this book. "You're-your," run-on sentences, at least one instance of a capitalized word after a comma, and so forth and so on. That is the main reason why I rate this book as lowly as I do- whatever else I may feel about the book, I can't in good conscience rate it highly when so many errors remain.
Another problem that cropped up was the odd use of qualifiers. Casey uses "sort of" in many situations where it really doesn't fit. For example, people "sort of" fall, they "sort of" groan, and when tears are in their eyes, they look "sort of" sad. Similar qualifiers are frequently used, and while every author has their tic, this is one that makes me raise my eyebrow, since it doesn't really get across the point that she wanted to make.
I didn't rate up or down for this point, but I also felt like Casey had missed some of the potential of the story. I won't go into spoilers, but one of the major plot points of the story crops up, literally, in the last part of the book, coming almost out of nowhere and being resolved within a few pages. It's a great loss of potential, and the epilogue slams shut any of the drama that might have continued to play out in this book.
In the final analysis, I want to like this book, and if you can get past the errors, it's still a decent work of Christian fiction. I just can't call it a "good" read, in its current form.
September 13, 2013
First off, what’s it about
Winter Shadows is a coming-of-age apocalypse/survival type of book. The closest book I can compare it to is The Hunger Games, but with a protagonist that’s 19 instead of 16, and though the government is corrupted in Winter Shadows, somewhat as it is in The Hunger Games, here the majority of the book takes place in the wilderness away from the government rather than under the government’s watchful eye.
What kind of read can you expect from Winter Shadows?
Taking place mostly in a cave in the wilderness, Claire, the main protagonist, learns to cope with the others that inhabit the cave, her new found home, and with living in the wild. Both the environment and other passer-throughs pose a dangerous threat to her and her friends while there, and by the end of the book, learning to cope with death has been established as a reoccurring theme.
My thoughts on the book
This is a promising beginning to an author’s career. Bond has command of certain key storytelling elements (such as an excellent use of suspense, knowing how to use just the right amount of love interest without making a scene sappy, bringing grit and authenticity with her outdoor descriptions) and she doesn’t ease back on her strengths as a writer the entire novel. If you like the first few chapters, you’ll like the rest of the book—there’s no ebbs and flow with her talent, it’s there throughout the entire story.
The characters are believable, and the scenarios that they must deal with are as well. I always appreciate when a Christian character’s personality and lifestyle isn’t hampered by the author’s standoffish tendency to not want to get into religion, thinking they might offend readers who want nothing to do with religion. Claire struggles with her faith throughout the book, and it’s good to see that struggle, and it’s good to see that Bond doesn’t hide the lifestyle of the other religious characters that are present in her book.
I really enjoyed this book, even more so than I did The Hunger Games. Where The Hunger Games seemed overly sensationalistic to me, Winter Shadows feels more down-to-earth, the characters and the scenarios that play out felt more relatable and meaningful.
Length, pricing, where can I get it
Winter Shadows is 183 pages. The pricing and outlets are listed below.
http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Shadows-...
Amazon Kindle edition $9.99
http://www.tatepublishing.com/booksto...
Tate Publishing as a paperback ($13.99) or in eBook ($10.99) format
Winter Shadows is a coming-of-age apocalypse/survival type of book. The closest book I can compare it to is The Hunger Games, but with a protagonist that’s 19 instead of 16, and though the government is corrupted in Winter Shadows, somewhat as it is in The Hunger Games, here the majority of the book takes place in the wilderness away from the government rather than under the government’s watchful eye.
What kind of read can you expect from Winter Shadows?
Taking place mostly in a cave in the wilderness, Claire, the main protagonist, learns to cope with the others that inhabit the cave, her new found home, and with living in the wild. Both the environment and other passer-throughs pose a dangerous threat to her and her friends while there, and by the end of the book, learning to cope with death has been established as a reoccurring theme.
My thoughts on the book
This is a promising beginning to an author’s career. Bond has command of certain key storytelling elements (such as an excellent use of suspense, knowing how to use just the right amount of love interest without making a scene sappy, bringing grit and authenticity with her outdoor descriptions) and she doesn’t ease back on her strengths as a writer the entire novel. If you like the first few chapters, you’ll like the rest of the book—there’s no ebbs and flow with her talent, it’s there throughout the entire story.
The characters are believable, and the scenarios that they must deal with are as well. I always appreciate when a Christian character’s personality and lifestyle isn’t hampered by the author’s standoffish tendency to not want to get into religion, thinking they might offend readers who want nothing to do with religion. Claire struggles with her faith throughout the book, and it’s good to see that struggle, and it’s good to see that Bond doesn’t hide the lifestyle of the other religious characters that are present in her book.
I really enjoyed this book, even more so than I did The Hunger Games. Where The Hunger Games seemed overly sensationalistic to me, Winter Shadows feels more down-to-earth, the characters and the scenarios that play out felt more relatable and meaningful.
Length, pricing, where can I get it
Winter Shadows is 183 pages. The pricing and outlets are listed below.
http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Shadows-...
Amazon Kindle edition $9.99
http://www.tatepublishing.com/booksto...
Tate Publishing as a paperback ($13.99) or in eBook ($10.99) format
July 22, 2014
I received my copy of Winter Shadows from the author, Casey Bond, in exchange for an honest review.
I really, really loved this book! Oh man!
The Cover
It's gorgeous! I can't get over the simple and gorgeous reflection in the glasses. I need to get this in print for my shelves.
The Characters
Claire: Seriously?! I am not sure she could be any more amazing in this book. She is smart, beautiful and crazy talented. What girl do you know that can out fish AND out shoot every guy?
Ethan: Oh, Ethan... I love thou. He is so freaking sweet it should be criminal. Can I keep him for myself?
Colin: My, my.. what can I say about him? He was so great and definitely memorable. I can't say much more without ruining the story. He alone is worth the read!
The World
I was a bit wary at the beginning because it felt like I was just thrown in the story without any clues as to what exactly was going on for a little while. Though, once I finally began to put the pieces together I was hooked. The constant danger kept me on my toes and I loved it. You never knew when things would take a turn for the worst. Many times, I felt like screaming at the characters for taking risks. I feel in love with all three of the main characters.
My Emotional Coaster
I loved Ethan so much that I was nervous about the introduction of Colin, because I didn't want my feelings toward the idea of Ethan and Claire to be spoiled. What I got was much worse. I loved them both! It was like trying to watch two of your favorite shows at once with split screen. I didn't know which I wanted more at the time.
As I approached the end of the book, I considered putting it down. The situation was growing increasinly worse and I didn't think I WANTED to see how it ended. The mere thought of how bad it could be made me nervous. I was afraid I would be hit with a huge cliffhanger at the end, and quite frankly I don't think I could of handled it if there had been. Call me a baby, but I would of broken down and cried... I am sure of it.
Alas, I finished the book. SO MANY EMOTIONS! It was rough, heartbreaking and beautiful. That is all I will say on the subject. I am not one for spoiling the fun, even if you want me to.
Side Notes
This book is a pretty short read, but DO NOT let that lead you to believe it's a light read. This is not a light read.
Overall, if you enjoy dystopians, mystery and sweet guys then you need this book!
I really, really loved this book! Oh man!
The Cover
It's gorgeous! I can't get over the simple and gorgeous reflection in the glasses. I need to get this in print for my shelves.
The Characters
Claire: Seriously?! I am not sure she could be any more amazing in this book. She is smart, beautiful and crazy talented. What girl do you know that can out fish AND out shoot every guy?
Ethan: Oh, Ethan... I love thou. He is so freaking sweet it should be criminal. Can I keep him for myself?
Colin: My, my.. what can I say about him? He was so great and definitely memorable. I can't say much more without ruining the story. He alone is worth the read!
The World
I was a bit wary at the beginning because it felt like I was just thrown in the story without any clues as to what exactly was going on for a little while. Though, once I finally began to put the pieces together I was hooked. The constant danger kept me on my toes and I loved it. You never knew when things would take a turn for the worst. Many times, I felt like screaming at the characters for taking risks. I feel in love with all three of the main characters.
My Emotional Coaster
I loved Ethan so much that I was nervous about the introduction of Colin, because I didn't want my feelings toward the idea of Ethan and Claire to be spoiled. What I got was much worse. I loved them both! It was like trying to watch two of your favorite shows at once with split screen. I didn't know which I wanted more at the time.
As I approached the end of the book, I considered putting it down. The situation was growing increasinly worse and I didn't think I WANTED to see how it ended. The mere thought of how bad it could be made me nervous. I was afraid I would be hit with a huge cliffhanger at the end, and quite frankly I don't think I could of handled it if there had been. Call me a baby, but I would of broken down and cried... I am sure of it.
Alas, I finished the book. SO MANY EMOTIONS! It was rough, heartbreaking and beautiful. That is all I will say on the subject. I am not one for spoiling the fun, even if you want me to.
Side Notes
This book is a pretty short read, but DO NOT let that lead you to believe it's a light read. This is not a light read.
Overall, if you enjoy dystopians, mystery and sweet guys then you need this book!
October 18, 2013
We live in a world where it is hard to trust others. Will this lack of trust become necessary in the future years?
This story's setting is in the United States of America, in future years and, frighteningly, could very easily happen in the not-so-distant future. It is a very realistic story with an unexpected ending.
The story mysteriously opens and the reader is not certain which "direction it is headed in". It soon becomes apparent to the reader what is happening. The plot slowly adds more key characters. The tale slowly but steadily builds as "the plot thickens". There is a steady flow and build up until the very end. The ending was good but a little abrupt and weak.
The characters were well defined, giving the reader that sense of connection needed for a great book. It was written mostly in the first person by three individuals, but it wasn't always clear at the very beginning of the chapter, which person was speaking.
To elaborate much more it would "spoil" the book for some. What would your family do if suddenly threatened with separation or under control of others? Would you be prepared?
The title is explained toward the end but I felt it needed a clearer title. The cover page was good but, again, better choices could have been made for the two small pictures... however, it is quite a unique cover.
With a stronger, smoother conclusion and clearer definition of the "first person" , this book could easily rate Five Stars.
As it stands, I can only offer a strong Four Stars rating. from this book reviewer.
Parents would enjoy this book and have nothing to be concerned with even a very young YA reading it. It is totally "Family" oriented.
This book was sent by the author for an honest review, of which I have given.
This story's setting is in the United States of America, in future years and, frighteningly, could very easily happen in the not-so-distant future. It is a very realistic story with an unexpected ending.
The story mysteriously opens and the reader is not certain which "direction it is headed in". It soon becomes apparent to the reader what is happening. The plot slowly adds more key characters. The tale slowly but steadily builds as "the plot thickens". There is a steady flow and build up until the very end. The ending was good but a little abrupt and weak.
The characters were well defined, giving the reader that sense of connection needed for a great book. It was written mostly in the first person by three individuals, but it wasn't always clear at the very beginning of the chapter, which person was speaking.
To elaborate much more it would "spoil" the book for some. What would your family do if suddenly threatened with separation or under control of others? Would you be prepared?
The title is explained toward the end but I felt it needed a clearer title. The cover page was good but, again, better choices could have been made for the two small pictures... however, it is quite a unique cover.
With a stronger, smoother conclusion and clearer definition of the "first person" , this book could easily rate Five Stars.
As it stands, I can only offer a strong Four Stars rating. from this book reviewer.
Parents would enjoy this book and have nothing to be concerned with even a very young YA reading it. It is totally "Family" oriented.
This book was sent by the author for an honest review, of which I have given.
September 15, 2013
Source: free copy courtesy of author
My Review
The Cover
I love the cover. It's just so cool. The pictures reflecting in the shades is a nice concept.
The Characters
There are a lot of characters. Claire, Ethan and Colin being the major ones.
I like Claire. She's a strong heroine. She's so easy to like. Although, at the beginning, her constant complaining was so annoying.
Ethan is nice. I don't feel much concerning him
I wasn't excited about Colin coming into the story but he is an interesting character.
The character development was good and easy to follow.
The Story
The plot is strong. I was into the book from the first page.
There is a lot of suspense and you just want to know what happens next.
The characters and the situation they are currently in was a source of strength for their small community.
There's a lot of Christianity referenced in the book. In fact, Claire is a pastor's child.
The writing wasn't all that. Sometimes, it read like it was written by a child.
Generally
I'm not really a fan of dystopian but I've been reading the good ones lately. This is one of the good ones.
Apart from a few writing errors, I loved it.
Recommended To
The book is targeted at young readers but I think older readers would enjoy it. If you don't mind the references to Christianity.
Review for We Blog About Books
My Review
The Cover
I love the cover. It's just so cool. The pictures reflecting in the shades is a nice concept.
The Characters
There are a lot of characters. Claire, Ethan and Colin being the major ones.
I like Claire. She's a strong heroine. She's so easy to like. Although, at the beginning, her constant complaining was so annoying.
Ethan is nice. I don't feel much concerning him
I wasn't excited about Colin coming into the story but he is an interesting character.
The character development was good and easy to follow.
The Story
The plot is strong. I was into the book from the first page.
There is a lot of suspense and you just want to know what happens next.
The characters and the situation they are currently in was a source of strength for their small community.
There's a lot of Christianity referenced in the book. In fact, Claire is a pastor's child.
The writing wasn't all that. Sometimes, it read like it was written by a child.
Generally
I'm not really a fan of dystopian but I've been reading the good ones lately. This is one of the good ones.
Apart from a few writing errors, I loved it.
Recommended To
The book is targeted at young readers but I think older readers would enjoy it. If you don't mind the references to Christianity.
Review for We Blog About Books
March 24, 2017
- I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review is painful for me to write because I always try to be as nice as possible to authors, especially new ones. But, I just could not get into Winter Shadows. There was nothing to grab me, not the heroine, not the hero (either one), and none of the secondary characters. Claire is bland and one-dimensional and I can't tell the two "heroes" apart half of the time, their personalities are so similar. I understand she's trying to write Christian speculative fiction, but the message, whatever it might be, gets lost because she lacks skill.
Had her writing been more active, I might have actually invested emotionally in the story, but truthfully, she needs writing lessons. Either from a college or just by picking up books on writing from the library. Her passion is there, but her skill falls sadly short. I hope before Casey attempts a second book that she takes the time to train herself. Writing is a craft, like any other, and it requires honing. Passion alone doesn't cut it. Working on her writing skills is the first step she needs to take, doing both herself and her readership a huge favor.
This review is painful for me to write because I always try to be as nice as possible to authors, especially new ones. But, I just could not get into Winter Shadows. There was nothing to grab me, not the heroine, not the hero (either one), and none of the secondary characters. Claire is bland and one-dimensional and I can't tell the two "heroes" apart half of the time, their personalities are so similar. I understand she's trying to write Christian speculative fiction, but the message, whatever it might be, gets lost because she lacks skill.
Had her writing been more active, I might have actually invested emotionally in the story, but truthfully, she needs writing lessons. Either from a college or just by picking up books on writing from the library. Her passion is there, but her skill falls sadly short. I hope before Casey attempts a second book that she takes the time to train herself. Writing is a craft, like any other, and it requires honing. Passion alone doesn't cut it. Working on her writing skills is the first step she needs to take, doing both herself and her readership a huge favor.
September 6, 2013
I must not like mystery books much as I found this book a bit slow for my liking. I think though that that's probably a comment on me not wanting to spend time working out the mystery more than anything (call it laziness or being too busy).
Having said that, the character development was good and easy to follow. The characters and the conditions they found themselves in, which for many people would break their resolve, only proved to be a source of strength and faith building for this little community.
The ending brought with it a sense of relief and joy as the community was able to come So whilst there was hope and joy amongst the community again, there would always be that nagging question of whether they would need to return to the caves again in the future.
It may not have been my cup of tea entirely but I can see it would be a very enjoyable read for those who like mystery stories. Unfortunately I'm not one of them.
Having said that, the character development was good and easy to follow. The characters and the conditions they found themselves in, which for many people would break their resolve, only proved to be a source of strength and faith building for this little community.
The ending brought with it a sense of relief and joy as the community was able to come So whilst there was hope and joy amongst the community again, there would always be that nagging question of whether they would need to return to the caves again in the future.
It may not have been my cup of tea entirely but I can see it would be a very enjoyable read for those who like mystery stories. Unfortunately I'm not one of them.
September 29, 2013
A very enjoyable Christian YA debut!
I really liked how this book started off with a great deal of suspense and tension! The characters were really cool (Especially Claire and Ethan!) but there was quite a large cast and at times I had difficulty keeping them all straight. I thought the idea of a dystopian America in which people evacuate to a cave in order to survive, was brilliant!
The storyline was really good but there were times when I felt that the story lagged a bit. But the pace always picked back up quickly!
I really enjoyed the whole book, but I especially loved the last third of the book, I couldn't stop reading, there were moments that made me smile and moments that gave me chills (In a good way!) There were many things that surprised me, especially the twist at the very end!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
If you enjoy Christian fiction and Dystopian YA stories, I highly recommend that you add Winter Shadows to your to- read list.
I very much look forward to reading this author's future books! :-)
I really liked how this book started off with a great deal of suspense and tension! The characters were really cool (Especially Claire and Ethan!) but there was quite a large cast and at times I had difficulty keeping them all straight. I thought the idea of a dystopian America in which people evacuate to a cave in order to survive, was brilliant!
The storyline was really good but there were times when I felt that the story lagged a bit. But the pace always picked back up quickly!
I really enjoyed the whole book, but I especially loved the last third of the book, I couldn't stop reading, there were moments that made me smile and moments that gave me chills (In a good way!) There were many things that surprised me, especially the twist at the very end!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
If you enjoy Christian fiction and Dystopian YA stories, I highly recommend that you add Winter Shadows to your to- read list.
I very much look forward to reading this author's future books! :-)
December 5, 2015
I received my copy of Winter Shadows from the author, Casey Bond, in exchange for an honest review.
Winter Shadows starts off with Claire and her father having to leave. And her father is trying to sneak Claire and some others past guard check points. It's all very stressful, hoping that they don't get caught. They end up going into hiding in a system of caves. Everyone is just trying to survive and go on with their lives, even with the possibility of danger lurking around every corner.
The characters were great and the story was told from multiple points of view. There is a little bit of a love triangle, but I'm pleased with the way it resolved itself. This book was short, but the length wasn't an issue at all. The last part of the book was pretty fast paced and had a great resolution. The end was perfect!
This dystopian book is a great story of survival, friendship, becoming self reliant and discovering love. This story did incorporate some religion into, therefore, it is different from the books that I typically read. However, I still enjoyed it.
Winter Shadows starts off with Claire and her father having to leave. And her father is trying to sneak Claire and some others past guard check points. It's all very stressful, hoping that they don't get caught. They end up going into hiding in a system of caves. Everyone is just trying to survive and go on with their lives, even with the possibility of danger lurking around every corner.
The characters were great and the story was told from multiple points of view. There is a little bit of a love triangle, but I'm pleased with the way it resolved itself. This book was short, but the length wasn't an issue at all. The last part of the book was pretty fast paced and had a great resolution. The end was perfect!
This dystopian book is a great story of survival, friendship, becoming self reliant and discovering love. This story did incorporate some religion into, therefore, it is different from the books that I typically read. However, I still enjoyed it.
November 7, 2013
When the US government sends troops to require its citizens to live in quarantine camps, Claire's father gathers friends and neighbors and whisks them away to form a community safe in an isolated cave. At first Claire doesn't want to go, but she learns to enjoy hunting and fishing and being a part of a close-knit community. During a fishing expedition, a bear attacks Claire, but a mysterious boy rescues her. Claire chooses to keep his existence a secret, knowing she risks everything to do so. But this strange boy has secrets of his own, and they may destroy everything Claire holds dear.
I enjoyed watching Claire develop her sense of community and following the romance elements to unexpected fruition. There were a couple of moments where the plot seemed to lose its rhythm (Claire seems strangely emotionally disconnected when she faces losing someone she once thought deeply important, for instance,) but over all, it was a really interesting story and a nice clean alternative to some of the edgier dystopian stories out there.
I enjoyed watching Claire develop her sense of community and following the romance elements to unexpected fruition. There were a couple of moments where the plot seemed to lose its rhythm (Claire seems strangely emotionally disconnected when she faces losing someone she once thought deeply important, for instance,) but over all, it was a really interesting story and a nice clean alternative to some of the edgier dystopian stories out there.
October 5, 2013
4.5 Stars. A captivating Apocalyptic and Christian suspense tale with surprising twists and turns, Winter Shadows will not disappoint readers who enjoy either genre. The characters are multidimensional and easy for YA readers to relate to. Whether they like them or dislike them, is a matter of personal preference.
The read is a light, fast one, and with the level of suspense, could keep the reader up late to finish, but you wouldn't pull an all-nighter. My only qualm about the book was there wasn't quite enough foreshadowing about the virus for me. I remember it mentioned in passing at the beginning of the story, but I'd forgotten about it by the time it showed up again and played such a huge part in the end. People who read my reviews also know I'm not a fan of indecisive women and their love triangles. But, neither of these two personal qualms put a damper on my enjoyment of this book. Highly recommended for lovers of Christian Suspense.
The read is a light, fast one, and with the level of suspense, could keep the reader up late to finish, but you wouldn't pull an all-nighter. My only qualm about the book was there wasn't quite enough foreshadowing about the virus for me. I remember it mentioned in passing at the beginning of the story, but I'd forgotten about it by the time it showed up again and played such a huge part in the end. People who read my reviews also know I'm not a fan of indecisive women and their love triangles. But, neither of these two personal qualms put a damper on my enjoyment of this book. Highly recommended for lovers of Christian Suspense.
September 13, 2016
An advance copy of this book was supplied to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
When I first started this book, I thought it would be interesting, however I felt the story was boring and dragged until I reached over half way.
The characters were well developed, but the point of view switched during chapters it was hard to follow and took a few moments to discover I was now in a different character's POV.
The story line was hard to follow as it lacked development. For example when the main character's (Claire) father left for supplies and information, we weren't told about what information was learned. I feel that the story could have been more in depth from the beginning to the end.
This is a good Christian YA reading for a younger audience and does give hope for the future if a pandemic would occur.
When I first started this book, I thought it would be interesting, however I felt the story was boring and dragged until I reached over half way.
The characters were well developed, but the point of view switched during chapters it was hard to follow and took a few moments to discover I was now in a different character's POV.
The story line was hard to follow as it lacked development. For example when the main character's (Claire) father left for supplies and information, we weren't told about what information was learned. I feel that the story could have been more in depth from the beginning to the end.
This is a good Christian YA reading for a younger audience and does give hope for the future if a pandemic would occur.
June 27, 2014
I really enjoy reading this..:)
I like how the story started, the suspense!It got me hooked up! ;D
But as the story progress I felt the story slows down, I felt it needs some action or something..but still I like how the story goes.
I love the characters,especially Claire, Ethan and Colin! Claire was awesome and Ethan was so sweet!!I tear up a bit when Colin died! I love their own POVs, it explains how they feel and it really helps me understand the story.
I like the twist and it surprises me. The end was a bit abrupt and the explanation to all that happened to the story was unfit.But overall I really like the book...:D
I like how the story started, the suspense!It got me hooked up! ;D
But as the story progress I felt the story slows down, I felt it needs some action or something..but still I like how the story goes.
I love the characters,especially Claire, Ethan and Colin! Claire was awesome and Ethan was so sweet!!I tear up a bit when Colin died! I love their own POVs, it explains how they feel and it really helps me understand the story.
I like the twist and it surprises me. The end was a bit abrupt and the explanation to all that happened to the story was unfit.But overall I really like the book...:D
September 15, 2013
I Love the cover of this book! I usually do not read a lot of books because I get bored with them....But with this book I was on the edge of my seat! I couldn't put the book down because I was to interested to find out what was going to happen next. Claire was a character that kind of resembled me. She was willing to do whatever to survive, even when she wasn't happy about the new housing they had moved into. I can't tell you everything cause I don't want to ruin it for you...but if you read it you won't be disappointed! I give it two thumbs up!
September 15, 2013
First off let me say that I'm just a casual reader who happened to score an early copy of the book. With that being said I really enjoyed it. I got sucked in iabout a quarter of the way through and couldn't leave it alone. I enjoyed the setting of the book having grown up in southern West Virginia. The characters were easy to relate to an care about. I think this is a read that has a broad based appeal with enough suspense to entertain the majority of readers. Congrats on your first effort Casey!
JR
JR
October 28, 2013
The cover and the synopsis of the book drew me in. The settings were beautifully described and I enjoyed meeting all the characters. The hardest part of the story to me was the plot twist near the end of the book. I don't want to give away spoilers, but it would have been nice to see them earlier in the story and watch it develop a little more. The author changes perspective a few times, but it is easily defined by reading the story which character's POV we're looking at. There are some grammatical mistakes, but it didn't pull me out of the story.
August 12, 2016
Unexpected Twist
I loved how Casey L. Bond gave details that made me feel like I could have been living along right there with the characters.
I was so surprised at the turn of events in the story.. I sure wasn't expecting what transpired with Colin but, I loved the ending.. I loved watching Claire grow in the circumstances her group and her were in. She became a strong woman and found her way back to God.. I just want to say I simply loved Ethan in this story... He was always there for Claire even though he didn't know how Claire felt..
I loved how Casey L. Bond gave details that made me feel like I could have been living along right there with the characters.
I was so surprised at the turn of events in the story.. I sure wasn't expecting what transpired with Colin but, I loved the ending.. I loved watching Claire grow in the circumstances her group and her were in. She became a strong woman and found her way back to God.. I just want to say I simply loved Ethan in this story... He was always there for Claire even though he didn't know how Claire felt..
July 23, 2016
Unexpected Twist
I loved how Casey L. Bond gave details that made me feel like I could have been living along right there with the characters.
I was so surprised at the turn of events in the story.. I sure wasn't expecting what transpired with Colin but, I loved the ending.. I loved watching Claire grow in the circumstances her group and her were in. She became a strong woman and found her way back to God.. I just want to say I simply loved Ethan in this story... He was always there for Claire even though he didn't know how Claire felt..
I loved how Casey L. Bond gave details that made me feel like I could have been living along right there with the characters.
I was so surprised at the turn of events in the story.. I sure wasn't expecting what transpired with Colin but, I loved the ending.. I loved watching Claire grow in the circumstances her group and her were in. She became a strong woman and found her way back to God.. I just want to say I simply loved Ethan in this story... He was always there for Claire even though he didn't know how Claire felt..
October 26, 2013
From start to finish I was entranced in this book. It was a new and refreshing idea brought to life. From the very beginning to the heartwarming ending, I was trying to predict what would happen next and for once, I was wrong more often than I was right. I would recommend this to any avid reader who enjoys sleepless nights followed by pot of coffee before work the next day. It was that hard to put down. Well done Casey!
September 25, 2014
Winter Shadows by Casey L. Bond is dystopian fiction with a strong Christian theme. It is very well written with very strong characters, even the bad guys. The different points of view made it easy to experience the emotional roller coaster in its finest aspects. I love the descriptions that pulled my imagination into this new world. Definitely need to give this one a read. The wrap-up ending tied everything together and left a bit of hope for the future.
October 2, 2013
Winter Shadows is absolutely incredible. From page one, readers are absolutely intrigued and it just keeps getting better. This book kept me turning all the way through, wondering what could possibly come next. The more I read, the more it sucked me in.
No matter what kind of books you read, Winter Shadows is one to check out!
No matter what kind of books you read, Winter Shadows is one to check out!
January 3, 2014
I read this book in 2 days, and normally it takes me months to finish a book. This one had me on my toes. After the first few pages I was wondering where it was going. Then by the fifth page I was hooked. I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read more books by Casey L. Bond. This is a must read!!!
March 19, 2014
This was a Goodreads win. The author had a a great imagination inventing this story which takes place in West Virginia. The government is corrupt and announces a pandemic which forces people into quarantine quarters. A few families gather together and hide out in caves. The story centers around a 19-year-old girl who lost her Mom to cancer. A very different read but an enjoyable one.
June 14, 2014
Oh my gosh! This is a great story and just like all of Casey's stories I was surprised by the turns it took. I'm usually pretty good at seeing the general idea of where a story is headed, but this took a turn or two I didn't expect.
It's quite an interesting read I highly recommend it.
P.S I love Colin :)
It's quite an interesting read I highly recommend it.
P.S I love Colin :)
January 11, 2015
This is a wonderful coming of age story which happens to be set in a dystopian world. The colorful well developed characters which you can't get enough of really make this story come to life. The interaction between the characters is really what made this story a standout for me. I also thought this was an interesting mix of dystopian and Christian which I really enjoyed!
February 8, 2015
This book has a great dystopian feel to it. I enjoyed watching Claire blossom and come back to the Lord. The characters were well developed. The story could have been a little clearer, but that is what makes this book great as a book study for a small group of young adults. I definitely recommend this book!
October 22, 2013
great read! unexpected twitsts that keep reader on their toes. probably could've read it all in one sitting but other things required my attention. can't wait for the next book by this author!
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