Winterborne: An Epic Fantasy

by J.D. Netto

Treacherous politics, deadly secrets, ancient magic, and forbidden The battle for ultimate power has begun in the first book of this epic fantasy.

Even before his mother’s mysterious murder, Henric Sabio never felt at home in his small town or at his private high school. He figured that was because of his cynical personality and tendency to daydream about dragons. But when a sudden supernatural attack transports him, his father, and his sister to a frozen magical world, Henric quickly learns he is different in ways he never imagined. He is Henric Iceheart, son of a disgraced prince and heir to a throne that desperately needs to restore the glories of a lost age.

Plunged into the elegant hierarchy of court life, Henric starts to discover hints of a secret history beneath the kingdom’s glistening surface. As he navigates ruthless nobles, sacred laws, and a rival family hungry for his family’s throne, his dormant powers—a deadly command of ice and a bond with an ice dragon long thought extinct—ignite. And soon rumors are spreading, naming Henric the prophesized Prince of Winter who will unite the land, albeit at a terrifying cost.

With help from gentle scholar Hundarian Silvermore and his ambitious twin sister, Kellenen, Henric attempts to prove himself worthy of this moniker and change his foretold fate. But his growing and complicated attraction to the Silvermore twins reveals long-buried prejudices that threaten his path to the crown. As rebellions rise and enemies close in, he must decide whether to claim his newfound destiny or reject it and face the consequences.

Some legacies save kingdoms. Others destroy them. Henric’s might be destined for both.

Tropes coming of age, hero’s journey, hidden identity, and forbidden love.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer Fantasy

256 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

J.D. Netto is a multi-genre bestselling author whose debut fantasy series, The Whispers of the Fallen, became an underground sensation upon its release. He is the founder of Saved by the Page, a movement that encourages readers to share how books have impacted their lives, with select stories compiled into an anthology published in 2018.

J.D. is also known for Henderbell: The Shadow of Saint Nicholas, a speculative fiction novel that explores the cursed bloodline of Father Christmas. His The Broken Miracle duology inspired an album featuring Paul Cardall, David Archuleta, and Tyler Glenn.

In 2022, he released The Echoes of Fallen Stars, a fallen angel fantasy centered on Lucifer’s lost gay son and the secret romance between Lucifer and the Creator. USA Today hailed the series as “a creation that every fantasy lover must have in their collection.”

Beyond fiction, J.D. has compiled his expertise in branding, storytelling, and design into You Are Not for Everybody: An Honest Conversation About Branding, Storytelling, and Narrative. Continuing to push creative boundaries, he is set to release The Other Side of the Ocean, a YA novel inspired by real events, tackling contemporary U.S. immigration issues.

In addition to writing, J.D. is the founder of J.D. Netto Creative, a boutique agency specializing in brand strategy, graphic design, and web design. His work has been featured in OK! Magazine and ABC News. He is represented by Susan Velazquez at JABberwocky Literary.

Reviews

[Ashley (Reads by Ashley) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an aplha reader by the author in exchange for an honest review.


Winterbone by J.D. Netto is a dark fantasy novel that blends gothic atmosphere with a character-driven story about identity, grief, and transformation. Rather than relying on constant action, the book focuses on mood, emotion, and the inner struggles of its characters, creating a reading experience that feels almost like a dark fairy tale.

Atmosphere and Worldbuilding

One of the strongest elements ofWinterbone is its atmosphere. The world feels mysterious, cold, and ancient, as if hidden forces are always moving beneath the surface. The setting has a gothic tone that emphasizes haunting landscapes, shadows, and secrets that slowly unfold.
The worldbuilding doesn’t reveal everything at once. Instead, the story gradually introduces pieces of its mythology and magical elements, allowing readers to uncover the rules of the world alongside the characters.

Characters

The characters are written with a strong focus onemotional depth. Many of them struggle with loss, identity, and the fear of what they might become. Because of this, the story often explores internal conflict more than external battles.
This approach gives the narrative a very personal feel, even within its fantasy setting. Readers who enjoy character-focused stories may find themselves especially drawn to the emotional journeys in the book.

Themes
Without revealing plot details,Winterbone explores themes such as:
• The search for identity and belonging
• The impact of loss and memory
• The struggle between light and darkness
• Transformation and destiny

Overall Impression

Winterbone is a strong choice for readers who enjoy atmospheric dark fantasy with emotional storytelling and poetic prose. It may appeal especially to those who like fantasy that feels introspective and mysterious rather than purely action-driven.

Overall rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

A beautifully atmospheric fantasy that stands out for its mood, emotional depth, and gothic storytelling style.

[NYX11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

I’m still reeling from that ending! Winterborne completely swept me away, even if it took me a second to find my footing.

The story starts off a little confusing, and it takes a few chapters to really grasp the layout of what is going on. But trust me: once you get past that initial setup and hit the heart of the story, you will not be able to put it down. It’s an incredibly fast read, and it wraps up on an absolute killer of a cliffhanger that literally had me screaming for the next book.

What I loved most was the vibes. It beautifully blends a dark, gothic fantasy atmosphere with a deeply character-driven plot. Instead of non-stop, mindless action—though there are still plenty of high-stakes moments—the book focuses heavily on mood, raw emotion, and the characters' struggles with grief and family secrets.

By the final page, it just leaves you desperate for more. More of this world, more of the slow-burning connection between the MMC and his love interests, and honestly... just give me more dragons!

If you love dark fantasy with deep characters and a plot that yanks you right in, you definitely need to add this to your TBR.

Huge thanks to the author for the advanced copy! All thoughts are completely my own.

[And So She Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance listening copy of Winterborne from Podium in exchange for my honest review.

Winterborne has an intriguing premise with ancient magic, dragons, political intrigue and a frozen fantasy world that immediately caught my attention. I also liked that the worldbuilding unfolds gradually rather than overwhelming you with information all at once.

That said, I found the story jumped around quite a bit, especially in the beginning, which made it difficult for me to fully settle into the world and connect with the characters. As the story progressed, things became clearer, but I never felt completely immersed in the way I'd hoped.

There are some interesting twists, and I can definitely see the potential for where the series is heading. While it wasn't a favourite for me, I still enjoyed the overall journey and think readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with court politics, hidden identities and dragons may have a different experience.

Thank you to Podium for providing the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and somewhat unexpected darker fantasy story, with a lot of flawed and fairly unlikable characters. The first chapters were quite confusing, although they made a lot of sense once the story was further along. Henric was all over the place as far as empathetic thoughts and actions were concerned, which fit the coming of age struggles and his suddenly changing circumstances, but he could also be horribly cold and calculating. The bisexual representation was excellent. There is quite a cliffhanger.
Thanks for the advance copy via NetGalley, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. D. Netto is writing the bisexual fantasies we all need. The characters are unique and memorable. The plot twists were really good. However, what sets this book apart is the writing style. Netto masterfully puts the readers in the shoes of the protagonist, allowing us to discover in real time. At times, it’s a confusing, but I believe that’s intentional because WHO WOULDNT BE CONFUSED AFTER BEING RIPPED INTO A FANTASY WORLD HAUNTED BY A DEAD WINTER DRAGON?! I had a great time reading it, and I’m excited to see where and what Netto does next. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Dey Linaldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG!!!!, there’s no better way to describe this book, such an amazing world and complex characters, a great book to binge tbh

[J.D. Netto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be biased, but hey! ;)

[meesh]

felt like this was written by ai. choppy. needed editing. not a great start.

[Sasha Alsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

JD did it again - this book is electric and absolutely fantastic!

[A.J. Jacono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, exciting, and brilliantly executed, not to mention a welcome departure from what I normally read. I absolutely adore this book!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received a copy from the author for an honest review* Netto can certainly write fantasy. He had me at dragons, ancient magic, and forbidden love. I did struggle a little with the beginning of the book; it was a little chaotic and disconnected, it felt like, but maybe that was intentional. The main character is a young teen struggling with his identity. As he learns who and what he is, it starts to make sense, the writing becomes less disjointed and flows, and I really start to get into it. I'm eager to see where the rest of this story goes.

[helandherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ALC.

At first, I wasn't quite sure what was going on, but the moment I did, it was a really nice listen. It was written beautifully, and I enjoyed every bit of it.

[Raemonah · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨✨✨✨/5

"I realized I liked the idea of a loud move but not the consequences that came with it"~Henric

Winterborne, is a fast-paced fantasy that focuses on our main character Henric and his family as he and his sister, Audrey discovers they belong to the royal family of Winterborne, a secret his grandparents and father have been hiding from them all this time. Overall, I loved the world building in this book, the history is a “learn as you go”, so it doesn’t feel as if you are forcefully thrown into the country’s lore and history at the beginning. I would also say that the characters are pretty well established, and we get to see some great family dynamics, especially with the grandparents and between Henric and Audrey, as they navigate Winterborne.

There are crazy plot twists throughout the story so you’re never going to know what happens next which makes it such as fun read. This is a great introduction to the unique storyline he has planned in the future of the series, and I can’t wait for the rest of the story to be released!

Thank you J.D. Netto for an advanced copy of the book!