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Le combat d'hiver
Le combat d'hiver est celui de quatre adolescents, évadés de leur orphelinat-prison, pour reprendre la lutte perdue par leurs parents, quinze ans plus tôt.
Au cœur d'un pays imaginaire, des jeunes gens, tous orphelins, sont détenus dans un internat qui ressemble à une prison. Cet hiver-là, une lettre mystérieuse leur révèle qu'ils sont les enfants d'une génération d'hommes et de femmes éliminés par la faction totalitaire qui a pris le pouvoir. Quatre d'entre eux choisissent de s'évader pour reprendre le combat. Mais il leur faut déjà échapper aux terribles « hommes-chiens » lancés à leur poursuite dans les montagnes glacées. Ont-ils la moindre chance de leur échapper ? Pourront-ils compter sur l'aide généreuse du « peuple-cheval » ? Survivront-ils à la barbarie des jeux du cirque réinventés par la Phalange ?
Leur combat, hymne grandiose au courage et à la liberté, est de ceux qu'on dit perdus d'avance. Et pourtant.
Au cœur d'un pays imaginaire, des jeunes gens, tous orphelins, sont détenus dans un internat qui ressemble à une prison. Cet hiver-là, une lettre mystérieuse leur révèle qu'ils sont les enfants d'une génération d'hommes et de femmes éliminés par la faction totalitaire qui a pris le pouvoir. Quatre d'entre eux choisissent de s'évader pour reprendre le combat. Mais il leur faut déjà échapper aux terribles « hommes-chiens » lancés à leur poursuite dans les montagnes glacées. Ont-ils la moindre chance de leur échapper ? Pourront-ils compter sur l'aide généreuse du « peuple-cheval » ? Survivront-ils à la barbarie des jeux du cirque réinventés par la Phalange ?
Leur combat, hymne grandiose au courage et à la liberté, est de ceux qu'on dit perdus d'avance. Et pourtant.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
80 people are currently reading
1182 people want to read
About the author
Jean-Claude Mourlevat
68 books145 followersJean-Claude Mourlevat once wrote and directed burlesque shows for adults and children, which were performed for more than ten years in France and abroad. The author of several children’s books, he lives in a house overhanging the River Loire, near Saint-Etienne, France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
October 13, 2010
The whole premise of this book was very promising: oppressive government, four teenagers escape their boarding schools, there is a whole underground rebellion in the works, and to seal the deal we get a glimpse of the new kind of gladitor games. Sounds awesome right? Well it was interesting and kept my attention, but it fell a little flat.
Milena, Helen, Milos and Bartolomeo are the protagonists of this story and each contribute their own unique perspectives. Unbeknowest to them they have been put into boarding schools not just because they are orphans, but because their parents were part of a rebellion. All their parents were killed and now it will fall on their shoulders to bring change again. Can they do it? Or will they fail like their parents before them?
It's kind of unfair to this book that there are so many great dystopian novels out there; it really had to bring something pretty original and mind-blowing to the table. It didn't necessarily have to be extremely impressive but have that epic feel to it. There were some really fascinating aspects like when we get to the part where a character has to compete in the gladitor games, but the book's main focus isn't that. My real problem was the dialogue sounded unrealistic, but that might be due to it's translation from French. I didn't get a good sense of where they were or even what time period it was. There is of course the whole love thing between the characters, which was sweet but not done as well as it could have been. Kind of far-fetched ending but it did try to keep it real in other aspects. Not everything is sunshine and roses and the idea of the cart-horse men was neat.
Towards the end I serioulsy got sad, so I did get attached to the characters, but not to the extent I am used to. Number one mistake is that it didn't have enough suspense. How do you expect us to get invested without that? Could have been epic but it is a solid story that will remind people that split-second decisions sometimes do really make all the difference.
Milena, Helen, Milos and Bartolomeo are the protagonists of this story and each contribute their own unique perspectives. Unbeknowest to them they have been put into boarding schools not just because they are orphans, but because their parents were part of a rebellion. All their parents were killed and now it will fall on their shoulders to bring change again. Can they do it? Or will they fail like their parents before them?
It's kind of unfair to this book that there are so many great dystopian novels out there; it really had to bring something pretty original and mind-blowing to the table. It didn't necessarily have to be extremely impressive but have that epic feel to it. There were some really fascinating aspects like when we get to the part where a character has to compete in the gladitor games, but the book's main focus isn't that. My real problem was the dialogue sounded unrealistic, but that might be due to it's translation from French. I didn't get a good sense of where they were or even what time period it was. There is of course the whole love thing between the characters, which was sweet but not done as well as it could have been. Kind of far-fetched ending but it did try to keep it real in other aspects. Not everything is sunshine and roses and the idea of the cart-horse men was neat.
Towards the end I serioulsy got sad, so I did get attached to the characters, but not to the extent I am used to. Number one mistake is that it didn't have enough suspense. How do you expect us to get invested without that? Could have been epic but it is a solid story that will remind people that split-second decisions sometimes do really make all the difference.
June 30, 2022
Un fel de distopie YA - nu m-au impresionat deloc personajele, actiunea este foarte fragila, dialoguri naive.
Au fost cateva idei ce ar fi meritat mai multa atentie, dar am ramas cu mai multe intrebari la final :(.
Au fost cateva idei ce ar fi meritat mai multa atentie, dar am ramas cu mai multe intrebari la final :(.
August 1, 2022
C'est l'un de mes romans préférés de Jean-Claude Mourlevat. Lu une première fois en 2006. Comme il vient de sortir en audio, j'ai profité de l'occasion pour une relecture. Et j'ai adoré. ♥
J'avais vaguement souvenir de son ambiance inquiétante et poignante. Après tout, on suit l'histoire de quatre adolescents en quête de leurs racines et dans un pays où règne la terreur. On trouve aussi des combats dans des arènes, une milice déterminée à traquer les fugueurs et un chant pour la liberté qui fait vibrer les murs du théâtre et le cœur des résistants. C'est une lecture incroyable et qui laisse son empreinte !
La prestation audio est un sans-faute. Je recommande.
J'avais vaguement souvenir de son ambiance inquiétante et poignante. Après tout, on suit l'histoire de quatre adolescents en quête de leurs racines et dans un pays où règne la terreur. On trouve aussi des combats dans des arènes, une milice déterminée à traquer les fugueurs et un chant pour la liberté qui fait vibrer les murs du théâtre et le cœur des résistants. C'est une lecture incroyable et qui laisse son empreinte !
La prestation audio est un sans-faute. Je recommande.
October 30, 2016
Every story must have a beginning, a middle and an end and this bit of tautological wisdom may be why trilogies are so popular. Following this trend, celebrated french children's author Jean-Claude Mourlevat wrote a trilogy as his debut into young adult fiction. And in an impressive show of efficiency, Mourlevat finished his trilogy in just one book.
For Winter's End is three books in one! The first book is a boarding-school drama where the student dream of small freedoms. The second spins an action yarn at a training school for gladiatorial games and the third presents us with a music-inspired revolution bent on taking down an oppressive regime. How Mourlevat's editor let him get away with ignoring sequel profits is mysterious, and all the action needed to fuel all three stories results in some seriously rushed plot points. So wild coincidences push the story along and villains meeting their ends in foolish, arbitrary ways.
This is a shame, because the quality of the writing is better than in many other YA books. There's a host of well-drawn characters that speak in clever, distinct voices and they inhabit a world realistic enough to make the fantastical elements stand out. You'll never meet school councilors more warm than this book's 'consolers' or a prison more fearsome than 'The Sky.' The style is clear and efficient throughout and this is a testament to the skill of both the author and the translator.
It's just too bad that the story ended up even more compact than the style; like a beautiful scarf stuffed into a tiny box.
Edited in September of 2016
For Winter's End is three books in one! The first book is a boarding-school drama where the student dream of small freedoms. The second spins an action yarn at a training school for gladiatorial games and the third presents us with a music-inspired revolution bent on taking down an oppressive regime. How Mourlevat's editor let him get away with ignoring sequel profits is mysterious, and all the action needed to fuel all three stories results in some seriously rushed plot points. So wild coincidences push the story along and villains meeting their ends in foolish, arbitrary ways.
This is a shame, because the quality of the writing is better than in many other YA books. There's a host of well-drawn characters that speak in clever, distinct voices and they inhabit a world realistic enough to make the fantastical elements stand out. You'll never meet school councilors more warm than this book's 'consolers' or a prison more fearsome than 'The Sky.' The style is clear and efficient throughout and this is a testament to the skill of both the author and the translator.
It's just too bad that the story ended up even more compact than the style; like a beautiful scarf stuffed into a tiny box.
Edited in September of 2016
April 15, 2021
אין כל כך הרבה מה להגיד. ספר מאוד בסדר כזה. לא מעניין מספיק כדי שאני אגמור אותו מהר, אפילו שהוא קצר.
נערים נלחמים במשטר מרושע. יש אהבה. נכון נשמע גנרי? אבל זה בערך הספר.
נערים נלחמים במשטר מרושע. יש אהבה. נכון נשמע גנרי? אבל זה בערך הספר.
May 31, 2012
It started out promising enough but Winter's End ultimately did not deliver.
Winter's End is about an oppressive government called the Phalangists. The boarding schools the four leads are in are very strict and cruel. This was where the book could have gotten away with not explaining enough how the Phalangists operated. The school discourages talking and the students are formed in solidarity not to turn on each other. No one in the community interacted with them and news of the real world was kept from them. They had three outside appointments a year to see a consolor. Helen is depressed and has an attachment to hers so she takes Milena along with her.
Milena meets a cute boy named Bart and they run away together.
The school has a system that if a student doesn't return then another child takes their place "in the sky". The sky is a dark dungeon.
This system works because the students have a system that no one turns on the other.
I expected more consequences to result from Milena and Bart taking off as two other students were locked in dark dungeons in their place.
Bart felt some guilt but Milena had a birth right of being fawned over and had beautiful blond hair. She was underwritten to the say the least. Her mom was a singer for the resistance movement so naturally once people heard her sing then everyone would rebel against the government.
Why on earth do people today pick presidential candidates on actors ["Oooh Tyra Banks likes this guy so I will too."] and why was her mom that influential? That still didn't make sense people would rebel because she sang. The few glimpses of the town seemed like DDR Germany. The secret police hid behind newspapers and everyone told on each other.
You would think Milena abandonment that resulted in Catharina being imprisoned might have set off a chain reaction. Why didn't these kids work the systems too? There parents were all resistance movement people but surely Totalitarianism isn't inherited?
We didn't get enough of the outside world to explain the rebellion. This wasn't The Hunger Games. I often found myself at times wishing it was.
There were many ways it could have gone on to be interesting but then didn't happen. I kept waiting for Helen to do something other than pine for Milos or follow Milena around. They left her behind twice.
Milena and Bart live happily ever after cause their parents were comely and talented.
Helen never learned her precious Paula, a counselor called consoler wasn't that great. She earned her living off comforting the abused children but admitted to liking the system because she had a place in it.
I skipped the Milos scenes where he battled in the arena. His story wasn't very compelling.
I wish we'd have learned more about the other kids who escaped the school after they did it.
The bottom line is the resistance was weak like the fake French resistance so popular in films and a.. err.. *quiet voice* Sweet Valley Twin book I read as a kid.
Winter's End is about an oppressive government called the Phalangists. The boarding schools the four leads are in are very strict and cruel. This was where the book could have gotten away with not explaining enough how the Phalangists operated. The school discourages talking and the students are formed in solidarity not to turn on each other. No one in the community interacted with them and news of the real world was kept from them. They had three outside appointments a year to see a consolor. Helen is depressed and has an attachment to hers so she takes Milena along with her.
Milena meets a cute boy named Bart and they run away together.
The school has a system that if a student doesn't return then another child takes their place "in the sky". The sky is a dark dungeon.
This system works because the students have a system that no one turns on the other.
I expected more consequences to result from Milena and Bart taking off as two other students were locked in dark dungeons in their place.
Bart felt some guilt but Milena had a birth right of being fawned over and had beautiful blond hair. She was underwritten to the say the least. Her mom was a singer for the resistance movement so naturally once people heard her sing then everyone would rebel against the government.
Why on earth do people today pick presidential candidates on actors ["Oooh Tyra Banks likes this guy so I will too."] and why was her mom that influential? That still didn't make sense people would rebel because she sang. The few glimpses of the town seemed like DDR Germany. The secret police hid behind newspapers and everyone told on each other.
You would think Milena abandonment that resulted in Catharina being imprisoned might have set off a chain reaction. Why didn't these kids work the systems too? There parents were all resistance movement people but surely Totalitarianism isn't inherited?
We didn't get enough of the outside world to explain the rebellion. This wasn't The Hunger Games. I often found myself at times wishing it was.
There were many ways it could have gone on to be interesting but then didn't happen. I kept waiting for Helen to do something other than pine for Milos or follow Milena around. They left her behind twice.
Milena and Bart live happily ever after cause their parents were comely and talented.
Helen never learned her precious Paula, a counselor called consoler wasn't that great. She earned her living off comforting the abused children but admitted to liking the system because she had a place in it.
I skipped the Milos scenes where he battled in the arena. His story wasn't very compelling.
I wish we'd have learned more about the other kids who escaped the school after they did it.
The bottom line is the resistance was weak like the fake French resistance so popular in films and a.. err.. *quiet voice* Sweet Valley Twin book I read as a kid.
July 21, 2021
J'avais entendu de très belles choses au sujet au sujet de ce roman ado, J'y suis arrivée un peu sur le tard, sans que cela ne diminue en rien le plaisir de plonger dans un univers cohérent et oppressant. Il y a de belles trouvailles dans cet univers: notons au passage les Consoleuses, des femmes chargées de donner affection et tendresse aux orphelines. Les hommes-chiens sont inquiétants à souhait, et les membres de la Phalange, l'organisation secrète qui domine la société représentée dans le roman, parfaitement sadiques.
Même si j'ai apprécié ce roman et sa référence à Kathleen Ferrier, une cantatrice britannique dont je ne connaissais pas l'histoire, je picosse ici sur le ton très photoroman italien qui caractérise les pensées d'Helen, une des jeunes héroïnes.
Même si j'ai apprécié ce roman et sa référence à Kathleen Ferrier, une cantatrice britannique dont je ne connaissais pas l'histoire, je picosse ici sur le ton très photoroman italien qui caractérise les pensées d'Helen, une des jeunes héroïnes.
April 11, 2025
boring, mc had no personality, and author doesnt know how to build suspense
January 18, 2018
J'ai lu il y a moins d'un mois La Rivière à l'envers de Jean-Claude Mourlevat, qui m'avait beaucoup touchée par sa douceur et sa poésie et dont les éléments merveilleux et choupis n'éclipsent pas quelques sujets tristes et forts. J'ai trouvé génial, c'est donc dans cet état d'esprit que j'ai commencé Le Combat d'hiver.
Trêve de suspense, je l'ai trouvé tout aussi bien, j'ai ressenti plus ou moins les mêmes sentiments, quoique les éléments merveilleux n'ont pas cours dans ce monde plus proche du notre bien que dystopique, et que les passages forts et tristes prennent rapidement le dessus.
L'univers est assez hors du commun. On fait rapidement la connaissance d'une bande d'enfants prisonniers d'un orphelinat particulier. On ne sait pas pourquoi eux sont là et pas d'autres, et peu à peu, on apprend, jusqu'au jour où ce qui devait arriver arriva, et les amis se retrouvent projetés en dehors des quatre murs qui les emprisonnaient et découvrent une réalité plus dure et plus triste, puisqu'ils vont se retrouver en plein milieu d'une grosse révolte en préparation.
Certains passages sont incroyablement puissants. Et ce passage de la petite souris ! Quelle tristesse, quelle prise de conscience, quel BAM-je-suis-la-réalité-dans-ta-face ! Pour un roman dit de jeunesse, c'est même assez étonnant de lire certains passages.
Trêve de suspense, je l'ai trouvé tout aussi bien, j'ai ressenti plus ou moins les mêmes sentiments, quoique les éléments merveilleux n'ont pas cours dans ce monde plus proche du notre bien que dystopique, et que les passages forts et tristes prennent rapidement le dessus.
L'univers est assez hors du commun. On fait rapidement la connaissance d'une bande d'enfants prisonniers d'un orphelinat particulier. On ne sait pas pourquoi eux sont là et pas d'autres, et peu à peu, on apprend, jusqu'au jour où ce qui devait arriver arriva, et les amis se retrouvent projetés en dehors des quatre murs qui les emprisonnaient et découvrent une réalité plus dure et plus triste, puisqu'ils vont se retrouver en plein milieu d'une grosse révolte en préparation.
Certains passages sont incroyablement puissants. Et ce passage de la petite souris ! Quelle tristesse, quelle prise de conscience, quel BAM-je-suis-la-réalité-dans-ta-face ! Pour un roman dit de jeunesse, c'est même assez étonnant de lire certains passages.
March 24, 2010
This started out with SUCH promise in a girl's orphanage with strange, strict rules about everything, such as, each girl may only go see their consoler twice a year. But, within a few pages, the girls had left the orphanage and here the story lost its' way. One of the girls runs off with a boy from the nearby boys orphanage and they try to get to the bottom of whatever happened to their parents and if indeed, they were murdered by a corrupt government. The girl left behind ends up leaving with another boy from the other orphanage to find the two who left previously and join their cause. We are made to believe the pairs fall immediately and irrevocably in love. Meanwhile, the police have dispatched "dog-men" (quite literally part dog, part man) to find them. One of the boys is injured and captured and forced to participate in a gladiator battle. The other three gain their freedom and start the beginnings of a revolt against the corrupt government with the aide of one of the girl's singing voice and "cart-horses" (a race of people with horse faces who have incredible strength). It was like the book couldn't decide if it wanted to be Harry Potter, The Gladiator, The Sound of Music or Monster Tattoo and instead, it went with all four. Which was not a good idea.
July 16, 2012
The start was very promising, almost a can't-put-down. But sadly, that was all. The story was ridiculously simple, and if you'd excuse me, foolish. Win a country over a deep-rooted, ruthless organization by singing? Seriously?
Of course, they didn't just sing and win the capital. No, there were some (unorganized) riots and killing and violence, but the core of them all was the voice of a teenager. Her voice was wonderful it moved everyone, provoked them to stand up, to fight back. No weapons whatsoever, the preparation was unbelievably unclear and not ready to any extent. A teenage boy, who just ran away from some kind of a concentration camp, was supposed to inspire an entire race (human-horses?) to help take over the country? And he did it, can you believe that, in a few months!
There was even a scene when the protagonists walked straight to the armed soldiers, ahem, hand-in-hand. They had nothing to protect themselves but courage and belief, and you know what? The soldiers ran away! You've gotta be kidding me...
And there's this quote on the back cover, from Le Figaro, "Une grande aventure palpitante digne de Tolkien."
HOW. COULD. YOU??
How could you compare this miserable thing to Tolkien??
Maybe it's a good idea to stop reading YA stuff.
Of course, they didn't just sing and win the capital. No, there were some (unorganized) riots and killing and violence, but the core of them all was the voice of a teenager. Her voice was wonderful it moved everyone, provoked them to stand up, to fight back. No weapons whatsoever, the preparation was unbelievably unclear and not ready to any extent. A teenage boy, who just ran away from some kind of a concentration camp, was supposed to inspire an entire race (human-horses?) to help take over the country? And he did it, can you believe that, in a few months!
There was even a scene when the protagonists walked straight to the armed soldiers, ahem, hand-in-hand. They had nothing to protect themselves but courage and belief, and you know what? The soldiers ran away! You've gotta be kidding me...
And there's this quote on the back cover, from Le Figaro, "Une grande aventure palpitante digne de Tolkien."
HOW. COULD. YOU??
How could you compare this miserable thing to Tolkien??
Maybe it's a good idea to stop reading YA stuff.
November 26, 2018
Câu chuyện có gì đó nguy hiểm cho những kẻ tương tự như Hội Phalange - độc ác, dã man và đam mê quyền lực. Sự nổi dậy của những đứa trẻ là phát súng khơi mào cho cuộc Kháng chiến giành lại tự do và hạnh phúc. Câu chuyện kết thúc với nhiều mất mát nhưng điều đó rất thực.
Dù có nhưng chi tiết khiến mình không chịu được vì sự vô lý nhưng câu chuyện đã mang đến rất nhiều cảm xúc khác nhau trên suốt những chặn đường rông ruổi của những con người khao khát tự do và tình yêu.
Dù có nhưng chi tiết khiến mình không chịu được vì sự vô lý nhưng câu chuyện đã mang đến rất nhiều cảm xúc khác nhau trên suốt những chặn đường rông ruổi của những con người khao khát tự do và tình yêu.
August 11, 2020
Même après tout ce temps, à la troisième relecture, ce livre ne cesse de m'emouvoir et de me bouleverser. Mourlevat est l'un des plus fins auteurs jeunesse de notre époque et livre ici un récit poignant. Si le roman souffre parfois de quelques longueurs, on se retrouve assez vite embarqué par la détermination fébrile et incroyablement courageuse d'Helen et de Milos (qui resteront pour toujours au creux de mon coeur d'adulte).
November 10, 2024
Ce livre a une aventure fantastique qu’on a tout le temps envie de suivre et qui est improbable-incroyable-impressionnante-prenante-indescriptible. C’est vraiment un livre où l’on passe par toutes les émotions : les rires, la peine, l’extase, les pleurs,…
La fin est tellement 💔💔 mais c’est ce qui rend le livre magique.
La fin est tellement 💔💔 mais c’est ce qui rend le livre magique.
December 9, 2025
Читала и надеялась, что в этой сказке все будет хорошо. Не может не быть хорошо - в этих детях (и взрослых, которыми они становятся) столько силы, смелости, заботы друг о друге. Поэтому конец меня очень огорчил. Я понимаю, что смерть (смерти) это цена революции, и что нет заслуженных и незаслуженных смертей, нелепых и "лепых", но все равно было очень очень грустно.
Мне очень понравилось, что эта книга во многом про личную свободу, про неотъемлемое право на эту свободу: и Милош, и Хелена и Милена выбирают, руководствуясь внутренними побуждениями, не только тем, что должно, что правильно. Наказания в интернате изощрённые по своей жестокости - воспитанницы оказываются в заложниках у своей совести, а бессовестные надзирательницы на это и рассчитывают. Тем важнее было разорвать этот круг, осуществить свое право.
Описания неба оставили во мне трепет, мало кому так удается ухватить невероятное волшебство.
P.S. Все в этой книжке хорошо, кроме бытовой фэтфобии. Конечно, это вписывается в сказочную традицию, в диккенсовскую традицию с исхудалыми бедными детьми и объевшимися богачами, но тут этого было слишком много
Мне очень понравилось, что эта книга во многом про личную свободу, про неотъемлемое право на эту свободу: и Милош, и Хелена и Милена выбирают, руководствуясь внутренними побуждениями, не только тем, что должно, что правильно. Наказания в интернате изощрённые по своей жестокости - воспитанницы оказываются в заложниках у своей совести, а бессовестные надзирательницы на это и рассчитывают. Тем важнее было разорвать этот круг, осуществить свое право.
Описания неба оставили во мне трепет, мало кому так удается ухватить невероятное волшебство.
P.S. Все в этой книжке хорошо, кроме бытовой фэтфобии. Конечно, это вписывается в сказочную традицию, в диккенсовскую традицию с исхудалыми бедными детьми и объевшимися богачами, но тут этого было слишком много
May 22, 2020
Hacía tiempo que quería releer este libro y reconozco que ha envejecido medianamente bien.
El Combate de Invierno es en realidad la historia de Helen como alumna huérfana en un internado primero, y luego como fugitiva escondida del régimen. No dejéis que la sinopsis os diga otra cosa.
Me ha gustado que, por una vez, la protagonista cumple su papel de no tener ni idea de lo que está pasando. Y los adultos son los suficientemente inteligentes como para no poner a una chica de 17 años al corriente de todo lo que es la resistencia a la Falange. Lo que no me ha gustado tanto es que Mourlevat no profundice un poco más en las historias de Milos, Bart y Milena.
En general es un libro que está bien y se lee rápido, aunque peca de diálogos, sobre todo los de los adolescentes, que se nota mucho que los ha escrito un señor de mediana edad que está desconectado con el discurso de los jóvenes.
El Combate de Invierno es en realidad la historia de Helen como alumna huérfana en un internado primero, y luego como fugitiva escondida del régimen. No dejéis que la sinopsis os diga otra cosa.
Me ha gustado que, por una vez, la protagonista cumple su papel de no tener ni idea de lo que está pasando. Y los adultos son los suficientemente inteligentes como para no poner a una chica de 17 años al corriente de todo lo que es la resistencia a la Falange. Lo que no me ha gustado tanto es que Mourlevat no profundice un poco más en las historias de Milos, Bart y Milena.
En general es un libro que está bien y se lee rápido, aunque peca de diálogos, sobre todo los de los adolescentes, que se nota mucho que los ha escrito un señor de mediana edad que está desconectado con el discurso de los jóvenes.
May 18, 2018
This book was really weird and I didn’t enjoy reading it that much but it’s an easy read. The characters are unique but they don’t change throughout the story. It’s kind of a boring book with interesting concepts and I wouldn’t recommend it because it doesn’t keep the reader interested.
September 11, 2019
Zhruba to, co člověk od podobné young-adult literatury čeká. Začalo to dobře, ale pak se napětí a zajímavost kamsi vytratily.
January 9, 2021
A very powerful book, filled with inspiring storylines and captivating characters.
July 21, 2021
Lu il y a quelques années
April 25, 2024
Really enjoyable read that had me from page 1. I did not expect the ending for Milos though. But the story was well written, well paced and just a joy to read
November 7, 2025
i think i’m officially a jean claude mourlevat hater now
January 7, 2010
This book is fantastic – if you’re not too bothered by the pesky little plot and character problems like “I’ve known you for one day but you’re the love of my life!” I feel like I always come off too harsh in my reviews so I’m going to start with what I liked about the book first this time and then move on to its problems. Like most books I read I love them while I’m reading them, I get caught up in the plot and the characters and I often over look glaring plot problems. As it turns out my thoughts on Winter’s End are no different. But you’re right – I was going to start with positives.
First, I want to disclose my bias. I read every YA sci-fi / apocalypse / dystopian book I can get my hands on. So I have read a lot of this kind of book. I don’t know which was way gives me bias but I know its there so I’m sharing it for a sense of full disclosure. Second, I should say that I was expecting this to be the first in a series and to my great, joyful surprise (and disappointment but I’ll get to that) this is not a series. This is a complete story, with an epilogue and all. This may not seem abnormal to some but there is a glaring trend in YA literature right now to serialize everything. It is one of my biggest pet peeves so I was relieved when I got to the final chapters of this book and realized that it was a finished story.
Probably most importantly I loved the ‘main’ character, Helen. This is, of course, arguable because there are 4 main characters all of which could be considered the ‘main’ character. Perhaps its my own perceptions or biases but I felt that Helen was given the most narrative voice, and the most character development so in my mind that makes her the main protagonist. I also love Helen because she is completely ordinary. I have never encountered a protagonist who had no specialness. And I loved it. I kept waiting for her specialness to appear, but it never did. Turns out she’s just like you and me. Sure all of her friends are super special and talented but that doesn’t mean there is anything extra great about Helen. She’s a nice person and works to do right by her friends but other than that, nothing. At one point in the book the other characters leave to go do something important and they leave Helen behind. When does that happen? Who has ever left their main character out of the main action? I was completely put off by this but not in a bad way.
Now the problems: First, the author spends far too much time on exposition. It’s ½ of the book. The catalyst: page 31. Start of actual action: mid-300’s. It’s like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows all over again. Far too much time is spent in the woods / running from the fascist leader / talking about planning and far too little time is spent on actual action. This book has 3rd person omniscient narration that jumps from character to character depending whose story the reader is receiving. However, in a strange way it’s also limited to Helen, which, I know, doesn’t make any sense. We, as the audience, are left out of all secret meetings. In some ways it reinforces Helen ordinariness but at the same time it’s a strange plot device. I can’t quite understand it. Second, while I loved Helen’s character is was also very strange to be following 4 characters and at the same time 1. Since Helen was the focal main character and she was often left out of major decisions I as the reader also felt left out. Finally, this was a book about something but not quite the characters or the throwing over of a corrupt government. I’m not quite sure which it was about. It’s touching and I liked but it’s not the greatest piece of fiction I’ve ever read. *(I feel I should mention here that this book was originally written in French and was translated into English. So some things are maybe, as they say, lost in translation).
Still with me? Okay. Read this book. It’s good. Just don’t think about it too much.
Book Rating: 7/10
First, I want to disclose my bias. I read every YA sci-fi / apocalypse / dystopian book I can get my hands on. So I have read a lot of this kind of book. I don’t know which was way gives me bias but I know its there so I’m sharing it for a sense of full disclosure. Second, I should say that I was expecting this to be the first in a series and to my great, joyful surprise (and disappointment but I’ll get to that) this is not a series. This is a complete story, with an epilogue and all. This may not seem abnormal to some but there is a glaring trend in YA literature right now to serialize everything. It is one of my biggest pet peeves so I was relieved when I got to the final chapters of this book and realized that it was a finished story.
Probably most importantly I loved the ‘main’ character, Helen. This is, of course, arguable because there are 4 main characters all of which could be considered the ‘main’ character. Perhaps its my own perceptions or biases but I felt that Helen was given the most narrative voice, and the most character development so in my mind that makes her the main protagonist. I also love Helen because she is completely ordinary. I have never encountered a protagonist who had no specialness. And I loved it. I kept waiting for her specialness to appear, but it never did. Turns out she’s just like you and me. Sure all of her friends are super special and talented but that doesn’t mean there is anything extra great about Helen. She’s a nice person and works to do right by her friends but other than that, nothing. At one point in the book the other characters leave to go do something important and they leave Helen behind. When does that happen? Who has ever left their main character out of the main action? I was completely put off by this but not in a bad way.
Now the problems: First, the author spends far too much time on exposition. It’s ½ of the book. The catalyst: page 31. Start of actual action: mid-300’s. It’s like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows all over again. Far too much time is spent in the woods / running from the fascist leader / talking about planning and far too little time is spent on actual action. This book has 3rd person omniscient narration that jumps from character to character depending whose story the reader is receiving. However, in a strange way it’s also limited to Helen, which, I know, doesn’t make any sense. We, as the audience, are left out of all secret meetings. In some ways it reinforces Helen ordinariness but at the same time it’s a strange plot device. I can’t quite understand it. Second, while I loved Helen’s character is was also very strange to be following 4 characters and at the same time 1. Since Helen was the focal main character and she was often left out of major decisions I as the reader also felt left out. Finally, this was a book about something but not quite the characters or the throwing over of a corrupt government. I’m not quite sure which it was about. It’s touching and I liked but it’s not the greatest piece of fiction I’ve ever read. *(I feel I should mention here that this book was originally written in French and was translated into English. So some things are maybe, as they say, lost in translation).
Still with me? Okay. Read this book. It’s good. Just don’t think about it too much.
Book Rating: 7/10
January 23, 2015
Trận đấu mùa đông.
Cầm cuốn sách trên tay, biết được tác phẩm đã đạt một vài giải thưởng, nghĩ rằng nó chắc là ổn đây. Và sau khi đọc xong thì thấy rằng nó ... ổn thật. Tức là đây là 1 tác phẩm ổn, nhưng không Hay. :)
4 cô cậu bé của chúng ta, học trong trường nội trú. Ở đó, họ nghĩ rằng tất cả chỉ đều là những đứa trẻ mồ côi, thứ tình cảm duy nhất đối với chúng là những bà mẹ tinh thần, những người phụ nữ yêu thương và quan tâm đến chúng hết mực.
Trường nội trú có những luật lệ khắc khe, những giáo viên lạnh lùng. Môi trường sư phạm trong ngôi trường này giống với một nhà tù hơn. Tất cả học sinh phải tuân theo những luật lệ hà khắc của trường học, nếu vi phạm, đứa trẻ khác sẽ bị phạt thay, những hình phạt tinh thần.
Cho đến một ngày nọ, bí ẩn về nguồn gốc của những đứa trẻ trong trường nội trú dần được hé lộ. Những mảnh vỡ ký ức của chúng về cha mẹ, gia đình gắn kết lại.
Lần lượt, Miléna, Bartolomeo, Helen, rồi Milos và những đứa trẻ khác tìm cách trốn khỏi trường nội trú. Đó không phải là sự trốn chạy mà là quyết tâm ra đi tìm sự thật về nguồn gốc của mình, tìm lại quá khứ đã bị tước mất, là ước mong tiếp tục chiến đấu theo con đường của cha mẹ mình, những người đã hy sinh trong cuộc chiến đòi lại tự do cho dân tộc. Thời tiết mùa đông khắc nghiệt, cuộc sống lạ lẫm bên ngoài bức tường nội trú, sự truy đuổi ráo riết của kẻ thù tàn ác và lũ quái vật khát máu cùng những trạng thái cảm xúc lần đầu tiên phải trải qua trong đời đã khiến hành trình của bọn trẻ trở thành một cuộc chiến thật sự.
Ly tán, gặp lại và cuối cùng đoàn tụ trong những vai trò hoàn toàn mới trong cuộc kháng chiến, nhóm bạn hiểu rằng những gì chúng phải làm không đơn thuần vì một cá nhân mà vì lý tưởng chung. Miléna gánh trên vai trọng trách đem tiếng hát thức tỉnh tinh thần chiến đấu trong dân chúng, điều mà trước đây mẹ cô đã từng thành công. Bartolomeo là người tiếp bước cha mình thương thuyết với dân tộc nhân mã, để họ tham gia giúp sức trong trận chiến chung. Còn Milos rơi vào tay kẻ thù, bị đưa vào một trại huấn luyện, nơi sẽ diễn ra những trận đấu mua vui cho những kẻ cầm quyền nhưng cũng là cơ hội duy nhất để đổi mạng sống của đối thủ lấy tự do cho bản thân. Trận đấu mùa đông là trận đấu sống còn của Milos để giành lại tự do cho bản thân, đồng thời cũng là trận chiến bi thương của dân tộc chống lại những kẻ cầm quyền - hội Phalange. Trận đấu khốc liệt ấy đã cướp đi biết bao sinh mạng của những người vô tội, nhưng cũng rất tráng lệ khi kết thúc bằng hình ảnh rực rỡ của một cô gái trẻ trung, duyên dáng dũng cảm bước lên trước họng súng quân thù, ngân cao tiếng hát của mình, thúc giục biển người xông lên đạp đổ chế độ độc tài.
(Đoạn sau m lấy luôn lời trên web dán vào vì hok điện thoại hok dễ j viết dài mà bị out liên tục).
Một tác phẩm ổn, nội dung ổn, vấn đề nêu ra ổn, giá trị mang lại cũng đẹp đẽ, tự do, tiếng hát,... Mình đã rất dễ dàng để theo dõi cuốn sách mà không đoạn nào cảm thấy chán quá, muốn gấp lại, hay bao giờ mới xong chương này đây. :p Nhưng tất cả chỉ có thế, không có điều gì quá ấn tượng để lại dấu ấn sâu, và m đọc không chán không có nghĩa là nó gây cảm hứng, sự thôi thúc, thích thú của độc giả với mức độ háo hức, mình có thể buông sách xuống bất cứ khi nào mà k thấy phiền lòng, k thấy hối tiếc.
Một số người thì cảm thấy thất vọng bởi sự kì vọng quá lớn vào nó, có thể m k quá kì vọng, có thể m k quá khắt khe, và m công nhận 1 số mâu thuẫn, 1 số vô lý khó hiểu, nhưng m nghĩ nó xứng đáng để gọi là ổn khi đọc. M k thấy tiếc khi mua, nhưng băn khoăn k biết có đọc lần nữa k.
Cầm cuốn sách trên tay, biết được tác phẩm đã đạt một vài giải thưởng, nghĩ rằng nó chắc là ổn đây. Và sau khi đọc xong thì thấy rằng nó ... ổn thật. Tức là đây là 1 tác phẩm ổn, nhưng không Hay. :)
4 cô cậu bé của chúng ta, học trong trường nội trú. Ở đó, họ nghĩ rằng tất cả chỉ đều là những đứa trẻ mồ côi, thứ tình cảm duy nhất đối với chúng là những bà mẹ tinh thần, những người phụ nữ yêu thương và quan tâm đến chúng hết mực.
Trường nội trú có những luật lệ khắc khe, những giáo viên lạnh lùng. Môi trường sư phạm trong ngôi trường này giống với một nhà tù hơn. Tất cả học sinh phải tuân theo những luật lệ hà khắc của trường học, nếu vi phạm, đứa trẻ khác sẽ bị phạt thay, những hình phạt tinh thần.
Cho đến một ngày nọ, bí ẩn về nguồn gốc của những đứa trẻ trong trường nội trú dần được hé lộ. Những mảnh vỡ ký ức của chúng về cha mẹ, gia đình gắn kết lại.
Lần lượt, Miléna, Bartolomeo, Helen, rồi Milos và những đứa trẻ khác tìm cách trốn khỏi trường nội trú. Đó không phải là sự trốn chạy mà là quyết tâm ra đi tìm sự thật về nguồn gốc của mình, tìm lại quá khứ đã bị tước mất, là ước mong tiếp tục chiến đấu theo con đường của cha mẹ mình, những người đã hy sinh trong cuộc chiến đòi lại tự do cho dân tộc. Thời tiết mùa đông khắc nghiệt, cuộc sống lạ lẫm bên ngoài bức tường nội trú, sự truy đuổi ráo riết của kẻ thù tàn ác và lũ quái vật khát máu cùng những trạng thái cảm xúc lần đầu tiên phải trải qua trong đời đã khiến hành trình của bọn trẻ trở thành một cuộc chiến thật sự.
Ly tán, gặp lại và cuối cùng đoàn tụ trong những vai trò hoàn toàn mới trong cuộc kháng chiến, nhóm bạn hiểu rằng những gì chúng phải làm không đơn thuần vì một cá nhân mà vì lý tưởng chung. Miléna gánh trên vai trọng trách đem tiếng hát thức tỉnh tinh thần chiến đấu trong dân chúng, điều mà trước đây mẹ cô đã từng thành công. Bartolomeo là người tiếp bước cha mình thương thuyết với dân tộc nhân mã, để họ tham gia giúp sức trong trận chiến chung. Còn Milos rơi vào tay kẻ thù, bị đưa vào một trại huấn luyện, nơi sẽ diễn ra những trận đấu mua vui cho những kẻ cầm quyền nhưng cũng là cơ hội duy nhất để đổi mạng sống của đối thủ lấy tự do cho bản thân. Trận đấu mùa đông là trận đấu sống còn của Milos để giành lại tự do cho bản thân, đồng thời cũng là trận chiến bi thương của dân tộc chống lại những kẻ cầm quyền - hội Phalange. Trận đấu khốc liệt ấy đã cướp đi biết bao sinh mạng của những người vô tội, nhưng cũng rất tráng lệ khi kết thúc bằng hình ảnh rực rỡ của một cô gái trẻ trung, duyên dáng dũng cảm bước lên trước họng súng quân thù, ngân cao tiếng hát của mình, thúc giục biển người xông lên đạp đổ chế độ độc tài.
(Đoạn sau m lấy luôn lời trên web dán vào vì hok điện thoại hok dễ j viết dài mà bị out liên tục).
Một tác phẩm ổn, nội dung ổn, vấn đề nêu ra ổn, giá trị mang lại cũng đẹp đẽ, tự do, tiếng hát,... Mình đã rất dễ dàng để theo dõi cuốn sách mà không đoạn nào cảm thấy chán quá, muốn gấp lại, hay bao giờ mới xong chương này đây. :p Nhưng tất cả chỉ có thế, không có điều gì quá ấn tượng để lại dấu ấn sâu, và m đọc không chán không có nghĩa là nó gây cảm hứng, sự thôi thúc, thích thú của độc giả với mức độ háo hức, mình có thể buông sách xuống bất cứ khi nào mà k thấy phiền lòng, k thấy hối tiếc.
Một số người thì cảm thấy thất vọng bởi sự kì vọng quá lớn vào nó, có thể m k quá kì vọng, có thể m k quá khắt khe, và m công nhận 1 số mâu thuẫn, 1 số vô lý khó hiểu, nhưng m nghĩ nó xứng đáng để gọi là ổn khi đọc. M k thấy tiếc khi mua, nhưng băn khoăn k biết có đọc lần nữa k.
October 20, 2009
Winter's End is a refreshing, action packed, emotional roller coaster ride. I enjoyed the narration and the details helped me set up a scene in my mind. The chapter opens up by describing the harsh treatment that Milena, Bartolomeo, Helen, and Milos suffer in the boarding school. It sort of reminded me of a twisted comparison between Madeline and Another Faust. I learned to care for each character and also distinguished their personalities. The book takes a surprising turn after the teens escape the school and go on a journey to look for freedom. The hardships that they face is unbelievable since the "Phalange" who is a fascist organization in power seeks to kill them. I also loved the fact that with all the running and hiding, they still managed to keep some romance. I sometimes "awwed" at the adorable comments between the first time lovers among the teens. I really liked the concept of a bunch of teens running away to succeed freedom but also causing an uproar that will aim to take down the government. However, the ending was bittersweet, I couldn't help but feel happy and sad at the same time. Overall, a nice entertaining YA book.
April 25, 2014
This book was extremely hard to read, and I can tell I'm going to have a tough time reviewing it as well. At first I was a bit confused as to why there wasn't many reviews, but then I realized this book has another name, 'Winter's End', which explains it. First of all, this book is translated from French. It makes the writing stilted, broken and confusing. Most of what is probably exciting in French is lost. The characters speak without emotion, the scenes lack suspense. I tried, but I couldn't connect at all.
It seems like a great idea; four teens pursued over mountains by dog men, escaping a mysterious boarding school that is more like a prison. It should be awesome. It's not. I just never cared enough about any of the characters enough to want to keep turning pages.
Not for me. Maybe others will enjoy it more.
It seems like a great idea; four teens pursued over mountains by dog men, escaping a mysterious boarding school that is more like a prison. It should be awesome. It's not. I just never cared enough about any of the characters enough to want to keep turning pages.
Not for me. Maybe others will enjoy it more.
November 12, 2024
this book holds a special place in my heart and i think it will forever be my favourite. read this when I was 14 because i had to for school. i absolutely hated reading with a passion and this is the book that did it for me. couldn't stop reading and cried my eyes out when milos died. most people i know really enjoyed this book, even as adults.
it's easy to read and not hard to understand. some might say too many things are happening at the same thing but that's what's good about it. lot is happening but easy to follow.
i probably will or have read better books than this, but it's too special to me.
it's easy to read and not hard to understand. some might say too many things are happening at the same thing but that's what's good about it. lot is happening but easy to follow.
i probably will or have read better books than this, but it's too special to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2016
A 1001 Children's Book. That's Winter's End. It's translated from the French. In view of my upcoming trip, I've decided to focus on reading those 1001 CBs that have French authors. And, though this book was set in a mysterious alternative universe following a dictatorial takeover, the book had a decidedly French feel, placing its trust in art to save the world. Very dark for a children's book, but with a hopeful ending. I worried the book would be first in a trilogy, but, no, it was complete in itself.
April 4, 2009
Aimed at a young adult audience, this had a little of the feel of the His Dark Materials trilogy. I found it an easy read, and read it in under one day. I was underwhelemed on the whole - I thought the ending was unsatisfying and anti-climactic and most of the characters 2-dimentional and under-developed. Some of it seems pointless and some of it unexplained.
April 24, 2014
I don't know what to say about this book. It was a very nice ride but I get the feeling that I didn't end up going anywhere. Very strange, this book is. Looked very promising, but didn't deliver what I was expecting.
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