A story where secrets are hidden, lies are uncovered, and evil lurks on the grounds of Storm River Manor.
Two weeks before Wynter’s eighteenth birthday she finds herself running again from the demons that have hunted her since birth. She has something they want. Unfortunately, her family has kept this secret for seventeen years, and at the eleventh hour they finally tell her the truth, but it may already be too late.
Her roots reach much deeper than the bloodline of one family tree. It’s changed this ordinary girl, living in an ordinary world, and knocked her into a reality of magical myths. Her mysterious past has caught up to her.
Will the demons that seek her soul capture her, or will she escape in time?
◆◆◆Storm Bloodline Saga◆◆◆
Book 2: Different Shade of Wynter
Book 3: Wynter Reign
Book 4: Wynter's Fury
♥ Author's •••This book is the beginning of a saga. While the story finishes in book one, the epilogue will lead into a hook for book two. It is not a stand-alone book.
Emmy R. Bennett lives in the Pacific Northwest. When she isn’t at her desk writing, she’s spending time with her family, gardening, crafting, or reading. Emmy grew up in Washington State in a Lutheran household. Although she’s strong in her faith, she believes everyone has the right of free will, in their beliefs. She loves to study genealogy and her family line has been traced back to the Vikings. It’s one of the many inspirations from which she’s drawn to write.
Coming into secret powers and attending a witch school? Sign me up! Eyes of Wynter by Emmy R Bennet was honestly a treasure to find. I love school dynamics, but Bennet truly mapped out the roots of this intrinsic family tree.
When Wynter attends Storm River Manor we discover why her father and aunt kept her hidden. Madame Moyer’s orphanage has many secrets we have to patiently wait out as Wynter’s powers grow stronger.
There were some moments when truths were revealed that I felt could have been reacted to more deeply, but the quick pace fed the story beautifully. The constant detail and flurry of characters was well written and easy to track. I kept reading more chapters no matter how many times I told myself it was the last for the evening, I wanted to know the truth behind the voice Wynter hears, her pendant, and Madame Moyer’s plan.
This book reminded me of the Beautiful Creatures series, and I’m excited to see what Wynter is capable of as she gets stronger. Good and evil magic is at play, especially with the twins Cory and Cole. I look forward to reading more about this dynamic as I pick up the next books — I’m a sucker for romantic sub-plots, especially ones with bad boys.
Eyes of Winter is a YA fantasy with lots of in-depth world building and interesting characters. It was fun seeing the story unfurl as Wynter gradually learned more about herself, her family, and the sinister truth behind the school/orphanage she finds herself in after the unexpected deaths of her father and aunt. I particularly enjoyed getting to know Cory and trying to figure out whether he was someone to be trusted or not.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read and despite the length, my need to learn more about the mysterious voice in Wynter's head kept me turning page after page. Definitely worth a read if you're a fan of magic, vampires, and powerful protagonists! 4.5 stars!
Eyes of Wynter is a YA Fantasy that keeps the reader guessing and has some unique elements. Wynter is thrown into a world she never even knew about after a tragic accident takes her family and a burgeoning power threatens to take over her life. Readers get to feel Wynter's confusion and find themselves asking the same questions, which I'm sure will be delved into in book two!
I absolutely loved the detail that went into this story. The many layer's of Madame Moyer's "orphanage", the history of the Storm's bloodline, the sinister plots. It was all super intriguing and kept me going back for more. Well done!
Loved it! Kept me interested and wanting more! Never a dull moment in this book and I can't wait to see what happens next With Wynter and everyone else!
The book holds potential! I do want to see what happens next. Theres a few grammatical errors, and a few issues within the story line. Like, her age. She’s 17, but is really 217, but won’t come into her power until she is 18, and it’s focused on her 18th birthday… I’m hoping future books clear this up a bit more because that whole thing was a bit confusing. I do like the story line, and I feel it’s pretty good for an amateur author!
Eyes of Wynter is the tale of a young girl whose life will change the day she turns 18. Young Wynter has no clue that her mother died trying to protect her. Nor is she aware of the sacrifices her father and aunt made to keep her safe. . Wynter is in danger from her own grandmother Maura Moyer- who is in fact possessed by a powerful sorceress- Sarmira. I loved the 'coming into power part'. It was a lovely reminder of sorts of Mortal Instruments. Very well done Emmy Bennett.
Eyes of Wynter is a story of the power of magic, the battle of good vs. evil. Pure fantasy with secrets within secrets, engaging the reader as events unfold. The author Emmy Bennett keeps the reader intrigued, eager to learn more as there is danger at every turn. The pace of the book never slackens as Wynter is hurled from one crisis to the next, narrowly escaping at each turn with help from a sympathetic vampire and a few other friends including a spirit. The writing never falters and the author's ability to add twists and turns to the plot left me astounded. You can literally never tell what will happen next.
This is BOOK I - the beginning of Wynter's journey and you want to be there as she steps into the folds of the next adventure that awaits her.
An intriguing story full of surprises, magic, twists and turns. Emmy Bennett did a phenomenal job of creating a complex world and story-line full of characters the reader will love. This book kept me guessing until the end and I still have so many questions. I cannot wait to read Book 2 to find out what happens next in Wynter's story. I look forward to reading more work by this author.
3.5 stars rounded up! This book was a slow burn but as I neared the middle I was hooked and had to find out what Wynters fate would be. Some of the plot was difficult to follow and felt a bit clunky at times. I wish we had a family tree to look at as we read because with all the character names it was confusing to follow, especially when first beginning this saga. Some areas / Wynter’s discoveries felt glossed over, as another reviewer mentioned her age. The way time felt was slow but also accelerated? I also felt there was too many fantasy elements brought into one story. We had almost every magical being mentioned rather than a focus on one or two major groups.
Over all I enjoyed the story and I am curious to see how it ends.
The next stop on my reading list was the YA fantasy, “Eyes of Wynter” by Emmy R. Bennett. I found it to be an intriguing tale of magic, monsters, destiny, and coming-of-age, that I enjoyed reading.
The book begins in a fantastical realm, with a real bang, and included a heart-breaking, noble sacrifice, an evil force determined to destroy her prey, and a narrow escape from certain death. Then the plot swerves from a supernatural setting to modern-day, where the protagonist, the teenaged Wynter Storm, while travelling with her friend, is followed on the way home after school by sinister figures.
Upon arrival at home, shockingly, Wynter is told by her father and aunt that her family is not what they seem to be – that is why Wynter is under surveillance. Thus warned, after an attack on the Storm family, they flee together, trying to escape catastrophe.
Yet the revelation comes too late to prevent tragedy, and too late to protect Wynter from being abducted by the malevolent followers, and spirited away into the clutches of unspeakable evil. When her path takes her to the foreboding Storm River Manor, Wynter begins to learn about the shadowy world humans and monsters that exists behind the veil of the real world, the extent of her true abilities, and what others are willing to do to take them from her.
The book has strong worldbuilding, as bit by bit, in meticulous fashion, Bennett pulls back the veil to lay bare the ghouls, creeps, and vampires that inhabit the novel, and the historical framework and family legacy that has shaped Wynter’s destiny.
Fans of vampires, magic schools, predestination, classic good over evil, and many of the comfortable tropes that numerous fantasy readers adore will be right at home with “Eyes of Wynter”. There is of course romance and yearning, often considered a must for YA fare, and it is well done.
The characterizations are for me the hallmark of this book. Main character Wynter is inherently good, smart, brave, and committed to her family – a heroine that many will adore. The secondary characters, especially those whose intentions and motivations are unclear, make for absorbing reading. Baddies like Moyer are appropriately menacing, and the ambiguity of whether or not Wynter can trust her potential beau Cory will keep the reader engaged.
The plot moves along briskly. For a decent-sized book (approximately 400 pages), it feels like a much shorter one, despite Bennett not sparing the details, mixing in exposition with action sequences throughout the novel. This led me to being able to keep flipping the kindle pages with interest on the entire book and, since I had the time, I managed to finish it in just a couple of sittings.
“Eyes of Wynter” by Emmy R. Bennett, Book #1 in ‘The Storm Bloodline Saga”, was a good read, and in the future I will happily loop back to read Book #2 “A Different Shade of Wynter”!
What do I look for in books as a general rule? Good question, glad you asked. Well, firstly I have a real passion for well-crafted fantasy worlds. Secondly, I really enjoy stories that twist a known archetype or trope in a way that’s new or unfamiliar. There’s more, but these are the two I wanted to touch upon because ‘Eyes of Wynter’ plays to both of these preferences in a big way. Now, before I get stuck into the nitty-gritty, I want to say right up front that I really enjoyed this first book in the ‘Storm Bloodline Saga’ and have already purchased book 2 (‘Different Shade of Wynter’) so I can find out what happens next. Okay, so now you know where I stand, let’s dive into non-spoilery specifics. Heads up, this is a dense book. There’s A LOT of world building that happens throughout the first half of the book, which frustratingly (in a good way!) gives you a lot of questions and few answers. But slowly, the world starts to unfurl before you. As Wynter learns the details of what’s going on, so do you as the reader. Each tiny revelation along the way starts to reveal the bigger picture, but also asks more questions. When you get about two thirds of the way through you start to ask more questions about this world which is clearly much deeper and more complex that you first thought. I’m not going to go into any spoilers here, you need to find out for yourself. It is Fantasy though, with all that entails. Magic and monsters. Think you know Vampires? You haven’t seen them like this! Be prepared for spins on the old norms. It’s clear that book 1 is the introduction into a MUCH bigger world, and it feels in many ways like it’s barely scratched the surface. The ending leaves you in a place where you’ve peeked at what is to come, but not really seen it yet. Thus I’m REALLY excited to see what comes next. In summary… ‘Eyes of Wynter’ is awesome. Buy it and get sucked into this fantastic world.
Wynter has a birthday coming up, and she’s ready to celebrate with her family. Instead, she’s tracked down by ruthless agents and kidnapped. She’s taken to a fortress-like castle run by a woman who’s the embodiment of evil. Shortly after arriving there, Wynter finds out she’s not the ordinary girl she thinks she is. She’s a coveted prize who will possess very special powers once she turns eighteen. Her captor intends to steal Wynter’s powers, and she will use extreme cruelty and torture to get what she wants.
Wynter is a strong female protagonist. After being thrown into the deep end of a horrible pool of misery, she’s smart, determined and courageous. In the most unbearable of circumstances, she battles to maintain her innate goodness when evil seems to hold all the power. And that’s one of the key elements of the story. In the face of powerful, evil forces, a person has to fight with everything they have to retain their freedom and sense of what is right and true.
This is a well-told story that engages the reader immediately. The descriptions are so vivid and chilling that I couldn’t help but be pulled deeper and deeper into Wynter’s terrible plight and the plight of the other poor victims who are also enslaved at the castle. This book does have some torture scenes so be forewarned.
I absolutely adored this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the story, and I couldn’t finish it fast enough—I wanted to know what happened that badly! Fantasy is not my usual genre; I’m more of a historical romance buff. But lately I’ve been reading more fantasy books, and I’m loving them!
This story is intriguing, engaging, and even funny at times. Seventeen year old Wynter is just days away from her eighteenth birthday when she uncovers her family is not what she thought it was; nor is she who she thought she was. She discovers long lost family members, including an uber evil grandmother, and her life takes a 180 degree turn.
There are a lot of secrets and evil goings on, and I stayed up late into the night finishing the book. FYI this is a continuing series; Wynter’s story continues into the next book. Yet still, the ending of this first book in the series was very satisfying. But my advise, when you start this book make sure you have the next one ready to go—you’re going to want to read it! I’ve already started reading Different Shade of Wynter.
There are dark secrets in the Storm family, and Wynter Storm slowly realizes the enormity of the changes to come as she approaches her eighteenth birthday. Author Emmy R. Bennett takes the reader on a chilling tale of a young woman feeling the pulls of an ancient destiny, and living in a dangerous supernatural world that wants to stop her from fulfilling it, using any means necessary.
Dark shadows roam the halls of Storm River Manor, watching and waiting for their chance to pounce. Wynter's father told her emphatically to trust no one--does that include her new love Cory? Will the spirit of her loving mother be able to stop the evil beings that are determined to quash her destiny? A great YA read filled with legacies from the past, vampiric twists, and an undying family love that is determined to see destinies prevail over evil intentions.
I'm not a fan of stories written in first person however, I learned how the form of narrative and concentrate on the story.
It is full of fantasy and mystery, the kind of book that latches onto you and moves you from one page to the next. A spellbinding tale that when I first started reading it, I believed it to be written in the times of old but was mistaken.
I believe you would be happy to pick up this book and enjoy the story of Wynter, the main character. It starts full throttle and never lets up!
I loved this book. It takes you into a completely new world. It is entirely unpredictable, full of mysteries and magic with Wynter fighting for her life while trying to uncover the truth of who she really is. I like the YA fantasy genre, especially with a strong female lead so this was right up my alley. A great first book, I am looking forward to the rest of the series!
This was an excellent read! Quickly, I became immersed in the story and looked forward to finding out what would happen next. The characters grabbed me and took me to another world. Loved the gothic feel and intriguing angles the author used to make this story different. Can’t wait to read the next book!
Awesome! That's one word to describe this book. Here's another. Exciting. Fun, shocking, and page turning intensity also apply here. Wynter is just the right combination of typical teen girl, and all around power house! I was up reading long after I should have gone to sleep because I couldn't get myself to put the book down. It was that good!
I have read the first 3 books.... i set an alarm to remind me when book 3 came out. I can not explain how much I love these books! The first book sucks you in and makes you crave more! I have read thousands of books and hundreds of series. This series has made it in my top 5 all time favorites!!!! I can't wait for the next one!!!!!
Coming of age? Try facing the fantastic and more challenges than mere mortals dare tackle. A great series to engage young and old alike. (Thanks for taking me back to those spaces in time where choices were absolutely mission critical. I only wish I'd had the *power* to fight back hard and see with such clarity. Wynter is a young woman to follow!)
Eyes of Wynter was a story that I thought would be right up my alley. I was right! I really enjoyed the plot, the mystery, the characters, the whole premise. I found it to be engaging with its twists and surprises, and enjoyed hearing the little secrets as they were revealed. We are left primed for book 2. Definitely on my tbr list!
Eyes of Wynter is a great read. A real page turner. It's full of suspense, fantasy and drama. I find it easy to read and fit for all age groups. I'm looking forward and waiting patiently to dive into the 2nd book.
The level of detail makes this a wonderful read! Fascinating story and a variety of characters that seem to be one thing...but perhaps are not...Bennett has woven a tale that keeps you guessing! Highly recommend and I will be reading more from this author!
Cleverly written and enjoyable. The characters and story were engaging as well as easy to fall in love with, or hate depending on which one 😉. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.