Marine veteran Zimmery Mac returns to his loving family in Pennsylvania just in time for the season of winter. He reunites with his wife, his two sons, and his little daughter, Lane, but things go horribly wrong when Lane turns up missing. Zimmery embarks on a journey to save her. The only drawback is that every winter the snow comes to life and devours all who disturb it. Zimmery must find a way to watch his step and his back in this exciting but bone chilling novel.
I want to start this review by saying that I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and this in no way affects my review.
I really wanted to like this book and be able to give it a great review but I just can't do that. There's so many things about this book that I disliked, I barely know where to start. I even debated giving up less than halfway through but I didn't think it fair and so I trudged on in hopes it would get better. Sadly it didn't. I think the story had a potential to be interesting but there were just so many different plots and twists thrown in, many of which made absolutely no sense. Really all this book was was a mish mash of half developed storylines thrown together in a completely weird and incredible awkward way. I'm definitely left with a bad taste in my mouth after this one!
The cover of the book raised my curiosity up, the story explains the cover which is so fitting for this book plus it brings much more to it than I imagined. The setting is Scranton, PA so I knew 'Winter' would be long, cold, and snowy. Winter by Reece Ran captured my attention however I didn't care for the opening of the story since it was something that really took place much later on in the story. I found it distracting to read a scene of someone throwing something out their window into the snow and then turn the page to find that this person is on a plane coming back from Africa and it is Autumn with no snow and no explanation for this totally different place and time. In fact, at first it had me believing he woke up sweating on the plane because he had fallen asleep and had this memory/nightmare, however after reading on a bit I knew that this was impossible since this wasn't something that happened in the past, it will happen that winter so he couldn't have been remembering/dreaming about it on the plane. Then this opening scene is repeated word for word later on when it really does take place within the story which just throws me off since I read all that before in the beginning. It would have been much more enjoyable if the author just started the story without that powerful scene at the beginning since it totally destroys the impact of it later on.
The plot in the story seemed simple enough but it expanded to different layers with their own sub-plots. The author worked this all into the story with seamless ease and a natural time line (exception of the beginning). The reading was smooth and although it was important to recall some things already read to make sense of what is happening now, it wasn't overwhelming and came very easy. It took twists and turns I never saw coming not only in the horror fiction part, but the mystery and especially the end. On the surface, the plot seemed to be some mysterious thing where winter, more accurately I should say, "snow" comes alive and eats people so no one can go outside in winter once the snow arrives. There is much more to this snow than that, almost like it has an intelligence to actively seek 'man' and destroy him. Then there is the underlying legend of the 'Snowman" and if in fact it is a legend or something real. When the main character's daughter disappears one winter's day, the mystery heightens in many ways and on the many levels.
I also couldn't help but notice, especially toward the end that a lot of what went on in the story can be related to things going on in the world currently. In the book the year is 2049 and there is no middle class, there is only the poor, rich and super-rich which is an event that seems to be taking place now (and has for years): the collapse of the middle class in America. There is also mention of the "God Particle" which I still see mentioned every now and then in the news. Some of other things mentioned are politics, terrorist, genocide, religion, mixed race families/racism, viruses, and weapons of mass destruction.
There are a couple of typos that I noticed, such as the word "doesn't" instead of the word "don't" and the word "the" misplaced in a sentence so it reads, "With the [sic] all the gray snow clouds...." I didn't notice any formatting issues at all.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys Horror Fiction and Mysteries.
*I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.
I would like to say first that this book was incredibly well written! I enjoyed the author's writing style from the first sentence. (Which really is saying something because most books take me at least a couple chapters to get into.) Reece Ran has the ability to fill you in on the backstory at only the most opportune moments, which means it never feels forced or random. The main character's flashbacks are perfectly timed, allowing the reader to get the full picture without experiencing boredom or confusion.
Throughout the course of Winter, we get a in-depth look at Zim's life. As an ex-military man, he deals with a lot more emotionally than the average person does. That stress affects his family life in particular. As the story follows Zim's frenzied search for Lane, Zim grows as a man, and especially as a father. He never gives up and never stops holding onto the hope that he can live through the winter and make things right with his family. His love for his wife and children gives him the strength to fight though nearly insurmountable adversaries. It truly warmed my heart to read about a man who could go through so much and still, at the end of it all, desire to put his family first.
This story kept me on my toes the entire time. The idea of man-eating snow is both terrifying and intriguing; it definitely made me glad that there isn't snow yet where I live! :D I'm not sure I'd have been able to leave the house while reading this book... Reece Ran has created a horror story that almost anyone will enjoy (obviously I wouldn't hand this to a young child! ;) ) His story line is original and exciting, and there is literally never a dull moment. Ran's writing will have you hooked from the first page!
The main reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that the ending seemed too abrupt. Zim's story comes to a close, but there are other critical parts of the story that don't fully conclude. (Sorry about the vagueness, but I want to avoid spoilers!) An epilogue to wrap things up would be fantastic addition. :)
I definitely recommend this book to all you horror/mystery fans out there! This is a super read.
A free copy was provided in exchange for an honest review … although I ended up buying my own anyhow; a few bucks isn’t too much to ask for a solid read, and .pdf text doesn’t resize properly on a kindle screen.
Winter launches admirably right into the action and scampers along at a good clip. I especially liked the world Mr Ran has set up and you will literally not know what happens next as new elements are dropped in along the way. Society struggles on despite the collapse of the middle class, an onslaught of serial killers and, the best, carnivorous snow. I loved the hungry snow. My attention also locked in more when Winter gamely addressed some broader social issues, offering more depth than your standard action-thriller. The moments that break archetype are when Ran’s individual style shines through the best, and I look forward to this developing in subsequent novels.
The reason I’ve given 3 stars over 4 is I like to really get inside a character’s skin, feel their rage and anguish but this is not that sort of novel. The more cosmopolitan reader might find some out of date gender and other stereotyping a bit jarring; luckily the pacing sweeps you quickly past.
A number of skills and feats are ascribed to military training with a rapid-fire “tell don’t show” manner. Given their prominence I would have liked to feel the scalding exhaust of the handheld rocket launcher, or the burn of muscles brutally trained until reflex becomes reality but once again that’s just that Winter is slightly sideways of my genre preference. Reece Ran has written with a lot of energy and I predict Winter will have broad appeal to fans of Matthew Reilly-esqe adventures.
Favourite bit: “I was grateful for the Nitro wear, but the snowflakes bit and gnawed at my coat, and little holes formed on my sleeves. The snow tried to eat its way through to get to our skin.”
5.0 out of 5 stars Science Fiction at its best! By kevin on August 26, 2016 Format: Kindle Edition 'Winter' was a fun, fast paced, suspenseful story that kept you locked in from the very beginning. I found it to be highly original and imaginative in the horror/ science-fi genre. With plenty of action and clear, crisp dialogue that was well written, the story keeps you enthralled throughout. I would highly recommend reading for those that seek a good scare, especially when it is snowing.
Marine veteran Zimmery Mac returns to his loving family in Pennsylvania just in time for the season of winter. He reunites with his wife, his two sons, and his little daughter, Lane, but things go horribly wrong when Lane turns up missing. Zimmery embarks on a journey to save her. The only drawback is that every winter the snow comes to life and devours all who disturb it. Zimmery must find a way to watch his step and his back in this exciting but bone chilling novel.
I tried very hard to think objectively when reading this book. I found the whole idea of murdering snow hard to fathom. I like the first start of the book and found that it was a good start, but that was about all of this book that I could say was good.
The characters were very simplistic. They weren't even developed enough to really get a good grasp of what they were about. Too many characters were introduced to the plot before it was fully developed. The idea of a father searching for his missing daughter is a good one and could have been really developed. I didn't get why anyone would want to go out into the snow if they had explained to their children that they were in danger. I realize that the daughter lived in a different part of the world normally, but even at 6 I think it should have been pretty well explained to her if the killer snow wasn't a new thing and since the author makes that quite clear when talking about previous deaths that the snow has been killing people for a while now. It just wasn't something that was believable plus adding a murder in to make the plot even more murky just made it a very hard read.
I did make it to the end even though it was hard to do. I can't imagine reading more, but I think there was some major need for some editing.
Reece Ran's "Winter" was an unexpected roller coaster ride of adventure, mystery, drama and twisted comedy. It read to me like a science fiction with a twist of horror in it. Without giving anything away Ran gives you immediate action at the beginning of this novel. There is something in the snow, or the snow itself is alive. But not only is there an issue with the snow but can one trust the people in your family or your immediate circle. The story is told from the view of the main character, Zimmer Mac. Mac a father, husband, and soldier must put his family back in order and protect them and friends from a very harsh winter.
The story is set in the future well past the year of 2040 and not much technology wise has changed. What surprised me most is the way Ran gets the reader hooked on the action then the "who did it" phase keeps kicking in. I was constantly guessing about who was doing the killing and who was stealing people? Needless to say, I did not have it right at the end but the journey to the very last page had me on edge. Ran's writing style is quick witted and flows quite nicely. Although this is not a zombie novel, I did have the fleeting thought that it should have zombies in it. Low and behold, it was like Ran read my mind and someone mentioned very briefly the word zombie (lol).
Overall I had a great time reading this novel. Although a two or three times a few of the paranormal characters were a little over the top in actions, Ran did balance it very well overall. Looking forward to Reece Ran's next piece. If you wish to read a novel with action and horror with a twist of mystery this is the book for you. I promise you will enjoy it.
I was sent an e-copy of Winter by the author in exchange for an honest review.
EDIT: Thinking back on it, this is just 'Taken' with killer snow and I don't really like the world that much anymore. Sorry. There are much better books to read, don't waste your time with this.
1*
When I was approached by Reece Ran I was initially excited, the premise of Winter intrigued me: Marine veteran, Zimmery Mac has to find his daughter lost outside in the snow. Snow that has a taste for human blood. Sadly, this book was not for me.
What I liked: I loved the world that Reece Ran created in Winter. It was fascinating and seemed believable. The history of the world is what interested me the most.
What I didn’t like: The characters. None of the characters in this book really stood out for me and I didn’t really care for any of them. This led to a lack of tension in fight scenes and when the characters were in danger because I simply didn’t care. They felt a bit flat and as more characters were introduced I just found myself getting confused with who was who because they all felt the same.
The plot. As I wrote before, the premise was intriguing but for me it quickly lost its charm as more plots were introduced. Too many plots. I found myself becoming confused, bored and was having to forcing myself to read further. Certain plot points also came up from seemingly nowhere (please correct me if there was any hint that a certain character was a Neo-Nazi prior to that twist) and many of the ‘twists’ were illogical.
Winters were usually difficult in the year 2049, but for Zim, this one was particularly harsh. His wife and two of his children are stranded out in the deadly snow, and the rest of his family is struggling to get along as they remain cooped up in his mansion. When tragedy strikes his household, and his daughter goes missing, Zim is forced to leave the safety of his home in hopes of finding her before the snow gets her. Because, in this future, the snow is out for blood.
Winter is a refreshing take on the possible future of humanity. In this future, the middle class has dissolved, leaving only the poor, the rich, or the super-rich. Zim is a former marine who has survived several possible future wars, and his rich status makes him safe from the bloodthirsty snow with a secure home and special Nitro-suits. But nothing prepares him for when his daughter Lane goes missing in the snow, and Zim's world quickly descends into madness. Every emotion is felt; the fear of being consumed by the snow is very real, and the threats of an unknown serial killer just adds to the tension.
I don't really have any complaints, save for a few punctuation errors. The story is gripping, the characters have depth and grow with the situations, and the dialogue serves to move the story along.
I give this book a 5 of 5. I thought it was very well done, and my biggest complaint is that it ends on a cliffhanger! I will definitely have to read the sequel to see what happens next!
I read this novel after my sister purchased it and read it and recommended it to me. I thought the cover was quite beautiful, and we had a fun discussion about what the cover and all its components meant, as it really is a different and interesting cover. The synopsis of the novel sounded interesting also, and it is always great to get a recommendation within a genre that you really enjoy, and to read something new from a debut author at a very reasonable price. There is certainly a lot of tension and intrigue to this novel, and this keeps you interested in reading it from beginning to end. The story is a mix of genres in some ways, but I found this to be a big positive, as the fantasy aspect of the novel mixes really well with the futuristic drama, thriller and mystery elements of the story and gives all of these genres a unique edge to them. If you love fantasy elements in a story then you will likely appreciate the interesting concept of the plot, and if you like thriller/mystery/drama novels then you will hopefully appreciate how the author gives these genres an added twist. The writing and editing of the story is well done and the story flows well, with plenty of consistent drama to keep you interested in the story. I enjoyed this novel and am definitely interested in reading more from this author in the future.
So I was offered a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, and I have to say I was completely captivated by the vision of the future Mr Ran has created in his short story "Winter." The idea of global warming turning the snow carnivorous I found very original and refreshing.
However the reason I gave this 3 stars over 4 was because I enjoy reading thrillers and dark literature, yet I found it hard to associate this book with that genre as I felt suspense was not built up properly. As although the blood thirsty snow was very interesting, yet I was not necessarily afraid of the snow or the snow women as the author gave away too much too quickly meaning as thriller "Winter" had little suspense. Furthermore I love getting into all different aspect of a main character, yet I found Zim as a protagonist to be very flat and basic with little relate able personality.
Nonetheless, I thoroughly loved the backstory to the book and the constant switch between flash backs and present day, I also found the contrast and similarities the Mr Ran created between the war Zim fought in and the war they faced against the snow. To summarize I would recommend this book but not for that of a thriller genre.
The daughter of Zimmery Mac, an Ex-Marine goes missing during the grim winter period. He has just returned home to his family after a stint in the service, and now, with the biting could, he has to bring his daughter back. He is out on a perilous journey and one of the most dangerous enemies he'll face isn't what must have taken his daughter away, but the weather itself. The winter leaves nothing unscathed, untouched. Will this brave man be successful in finding his daughter and bringing her back without suffering from the sting of the winter?
The story is well-written and it has a compelling concept, one that could be prophetic of what awaits mankind in this era of climate change. Readers will be immediately drawn to the main character his anxiety about his daughter, his fierce courage, and the dangers that await him are elements that make the story exciting to read and the author as built a good sense of suspense at every turn of the story. The reader isn't sure of what could happen next. A well-thought-out and professionally written story that will entertain many readers. Winter by Reece Ran is a beautiful story that is well told.
Reece Ran has a fantastic imagination. Winter was unlike any book I have ever read. I was really into this book even though some of the characters I was hoping would get killed off quickly. I was not satisfied with how the book ended as I found it to be quite confusing. I give this book 3***. While I liked most of the characters, I felt like the story did not always flow as smoothly as it could have. I would have liked for the ending to be clearer. I did not feel like any loose ends were cleared up and I still don’t know who the killer is. Hopefully Mr. Run writes a sequel to clear up some of the confusion.
Not a fan. There was way too much going on I didn't finish this book. Too much chaos, not enough direct plot. Was provided a free copy for an honest review. I provided the author with more descriptive reasoning behind my thoughts, but that's strictly for him and his creative process. I do think he's got a lot of potential, as well as, a lot of solid ideas he just needs to pick one and stick with it.
Good read. I did advise Reece that in the next book, I would enjoy it more if the characters stuck to fighting the bigger enemy rather than each other. But, I believed the story so much I changed my holiday destination to sunny Turkey. When is next and what will it be, Reece. I can't imagine, but I am sure you will come up with something to scare the sleep away.
So much potential, but too many writing and sequencing errors, plot holes, and unanswered questions. Hoping a thoroughly edited and revised edition is on the horizon. Full review on Hall Ways http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com/...
Very frightening book! I loved it and feel that this is the beginning of a long and successful career for this author. This is a must read for those who enjoy a good scary/frightening story. A great read!