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Winter #3
Winter Dawn
Meet Winter: she’s the audacious, hyper-intelligent GCHQ agent with more notches on her bedpost than James Bond and more hacking cred than Lisbeth Salander.
Winter Dawn is the third instalment in the Winter series, journeying back to the beginning of her story. This time, she’s grappling with Colosseum: a sinister online phenomenon that has gripped the world. It promises a massive cash prize to the successful hunter of its victims, unleashing an unstoppable tide of violence - and the world’s authorities are powerless to prevent it.
When a New York senator is targeted, Winter is called in to protect her. But with all the world watching, there’s nowhere to hide. No one has ever survived Colosseum. It’s the winter solstice and as they journey together into the dark heart of the longest night, they soon discover that nothing about Colosseum is what it seems.
There are rules and there is a purpose, if only they can solve the riddle in time. Colosseum is more than a hunt: it’s a challenge. Targets must face their darkest fear or die at dawn.
Winter Dawn is the third instalment in the Winter series - the first of which was Audible’s Thriller of the Year in 2019 - and journeys back to the beginning of her story.
Winter Dawn is the third instalment in the Winter series, journeying back to the beginning of her story. This time, she’s grappling with Colosseum: a sinister online phenomenon that has gripped the world. It promises a massive cash prize to the successful hunter of its victims, unleashing an unstoppable tide of violence - and the world’s authorities are powerless to prevent it.
When a New York senator is targeted, Winter is called in to protect her. But with all the world watching, there’s nowhere to hide. No one has ever survived Colosseum. It’s the winter solstice and as they journey together into the dark heart of the longest night, they soon discover that nothing about Colosseum is what it seems.
There are rules and there is a purpose, if only they can solve the riddle in time. Colosseum is more than a hunt: it’s a challenge. Targets must face their darkest fear or die at dawn.
Winter Dawn is the third instalment in the Winter series - the first of which was Audible’s Thriller of the Year in 2019 - and journeys back to the beginning of her story.
1 pages, Audible Audio
Published December 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 18, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up.
I loved the previous two books so much that when I saw this was available I just had to squeeze it in.
Winter Dawn is actually the prequel to the two other books and explains how Winter, the kickass female operative, became “the best of the best”. It actually doesn’t matter if you read it first or third. I thought it made a lot of sense being third and I think there will be another book tying it all up.
A shadowy group calling itself Colosseum and headed up by “the adjudicator” has garnered huge audiences with live streaming hunts to the death of a range of reasonably well known people. The victims are given a week - some of them run and some hide but they are always killed in the end. The newest victim is a 60 year old Senator who is planning to announce her run for President at her birthday party but the telecast is hijacked by Colosseum and she is named the ninth victim. Her assistant the very proper British gentleman, Walter, has a plan to save her and he calls in the best of the best - 21 year old Winter who has spent the last 12 months sabotaging a Russian nuclear facility in Siberia and know nothing of the game afoot.
You would think this is doomed to failure but the Senator shows a surprising core of steel as she is forced to push herself beyond endurance. Winter proves very resourceful and they hook up with the mother of the previous victim, Avril - an internet influencing phenomenon. Winter has realised the game is not to indiscriminately kill but rather poses a challenge to each contestant where they face their deepest fears. The Senator has no clue what her challenge is as the email containing it was deleted by ‘someone’. But a captured phone from one of the hunters enables them to learn of it.
This was pure adrenaline, relentless action and some freaky background which Winter still does not know if it’s real or a series of hallucinations. I don’t want to say any more. I didn’t think the violence was gratuitous. There wasn’t much anyway, the mind games were quite enough. The end of the story explains how Firestorm came to be. Firestorm is the subject of books 2 and 3. You can’t help liking these characters, rough diamonds though they are. I really recommend this series for action junkies and I cannot wait for the fourth, and possibly final, book. Many thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I loved this one!
I loved the previous two books so much that when I saw this was available I just had to squeeze it in.
Winter Dawn is actually the prequel to the two other books and explains how Winter, the kickass female operative, became “the best of the best”. It actually doesn’t matter if you read it first or third. I thought it made a lot of sense being third and I think there will be another book tying it all up.
A shadowy group calling itself Colosseum and headed up by “the adjudicator” has garnered huge audiences with live streaming hunts to the death of a range of reasonably well known people. The victims are given a week - some of them run and some hide but they are always killed in the end. The newest victim is a 60 year old Senator who is planning to announce her run for President at her birthday party but the telecast is hijacked by Colosseum and she is named the ninth victim. Her assistant the very proper British gentleman, Walter, has a plan to save her and he calls in the best of the best - 21 year old Winter who has spent the last 12 months sabotaging a Russian nuclear facility in Siberia and know nothing of the game afoot.
You would think this is doomed to failure but the Senator shows a surprising core of steel as she is forced to push herself beyond endurance. Winter proves very resourceful and they hook up with the mother of the previous victim, Avril - an internet influencing phenomenon. Winter has realised the game is not to indiscriminately kill but rather poses a challenge to each contestant where they face their deepest fears. The Senator has no clue what her challenge is as the email containing it was deleted by ‘someone’. But a captured phone from one of the hunters enables them to learn of it.
This was pure adrenaline, relentless action and some freaky background which Winter still does not know if it’s real or a series of hallucinations. I don’t want to say any more. I didn’t think the violence was gratuitous. There wasn’t much anyway, the mind games were quite enough. The end of the story explains how Firestorm came to be. Firestorm is the subject of books 2 and 3. You can’t help liking these characters, rough diamonds though they are. I really recommend this series for action junkies and I cannot wait for the fourth, and possibly final, book. Many thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I loved this one!
December 17, 2021
This series is pulp action nonsense but at least it is the type of fun pulp action nonsense that is enjoyable to read!
This third instalment of Alex Callister’s Winter series was actually a prequel telling the tale of one of Winter’s early missions for the English security forces but it also explored more about her recruitment to the service and gave us a few more glimpses into her past.
Winter was assigned to protect a US senator from being assassinated by Colosseum. Colosseum is a new game being run by some untraceable games master that hunts people for sport. It has become massively popular as big cash is on offer to those that kill the targets. Winter needs to use her skills to keep a 60 year old target alive against the force of the worlds best assassins!
The tale was engaging and enjoyable. It is over the top nonsense but no more so than one will find in movies such as Bond or Mission Impossible and Winter is always very easy to root for. Definitely a lot more likeable than Bond as a character even if she does share a lot of the same traits!
The pacing in this tale was pretty good. I was hooked from start to finish which is always the sign of a fun story. The book has flaws but is always very readable thanks to a combination Callister’s engaging writing style, the fast paced story, and the fact that Winter herself is just a really good lead character.
The surprising thing about this book was the fact that a lot of it, especially in the first half of the story, was told from the senators POV. It was a departure from what we got in the first couple of books in the story but, happily, it did not hurt the story at all. Winter was fun even when she was just a secondary character and the story itself was as engaging as ever.
This is just a fun pulpy over the top action/spy series. I have enjoyed the who,e series. It was just the sort of fun tale I was looking for when I started reading a few more action/thrillers this year!
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: Ell Potter did a good job with the Winter POV parts of the story as always. She was joined by Lorelei King who did a good job with Senators POV segments. King ended up having more air time.
This third instalment of Alex Callister’s Winter series was actually a prequel telling the tale of one of Winter’s early missions for the English security forces but it also explored more about her recruitment to the service and gave us a few more glimpses into her past.
Winter was assigned to protect a US senator from being assassinated by Colosseum. Colosseum is a new game being run by some untraceable games master that hunts people for sport. It has become massively popular as big cash is on offer to those that kill the targets. Winter needs to use her skills to keep a 60 year old target alive against the force of the worlds best assassins!
The tale was engaging and enjoyable. It is over the top nonsense but no more so than one will find in movies such as Bond or Mission Impossible and Winter is always very easy to root for. Definitely a lot more likeable than Bond as a character even if she does share a lot of the same traits!
The pacing in this tale was pretty good. I was hooked from start to finish which is always the sign of a fun story. The book has flaws but is always very readable thanks to a combination Callister’s engaging writing style, the fast paced story, and the fact that Winter herself is just a really good lead character.
The surprising thing about this book was the fact that a lot of it, especially in the first half of the story, was told from the senators POV. It was a departure from what we got in the first couple of books in the story but, happily, it did not hurt the story at all. Winter was fun even when she was just a secondary character and the story itself was as engaging as ever.
This is just a fun pulpy over the top action/spy series. I have enjoyed the who,e series. It was just the sort of fun tale I was looking for when I started reading a few more action/thrillers this year!
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: Ell Potter did a good job with the Winter POV parts of the story as always. She was joined by Lorelei King who did a good job with Senators POV segments. King ended up having more air time.
January 18, 2026
A solid 4 stars for this prequel stroy tellling of Winter's early years in the interview & testing process for working with GCHQ. As always, the author writes some thrilling action scenes as well as vulnerable personal scenes. Ell Potter's narration is superb as always--she really brings Winter to life--ably assisted here by Lorelei King.
You *could* read this prequel first, before bk 1, btw, but I'd stick with the established series order.
You *could* read this prequel first, before bk 1, btw, but I'd stick with the established series order.
April 10, 2022
I love this series!
I listened to the series on Audible and the narrator is fantastic for all the Winter books.
This is a prequel to the other Winter Books. It was fun to go on this mind puzzle adventure with Winter and workout the clues. It’s a different younger version of the Winter we know from the previous books, and as the story develops we get to see how she became the Winter we know now.
I highly recommend the entire series, especially if you like spy thrillers and kick-ass female protagonists.
I listened to the series on Audible and the narrator is fantastic for all the Winter books.
This is a prequel to the other Winter Books. It was fun to go on this mind puzzle adventure with Winter and workout the clues. It’s a different younger version of the Winter we know from the previous books, and as the story develops we get to see how she became the Winter we know now.
I highly recommend the entire series, especially if you like spy thrillers and kick-ass female protagonists.
September 5, 2022
Having not been a fan of the second instalment, I found this a really exciting little thriller. Although it does feature a Democratic Presidential candidate so brilliant the Republican Party lets them run unopposed, which given the wide schism between the two feels the stuff of science fiction.
August 4, 2025
Struggled to get into this book. It’s a prequel to the first two and shows how Winter became winter. Some aspects were good but I kept having to go back to understand references made later in the book.
January 25, 2022
💪🏼Winter Dawn is the third book in the Winter series by Alex Callister and is the prequel to the first two. I did listen to both Winter Dark and Winter Rising on Audible in preparation for this book tour. While I did like the first two books, I will say that I enjoyed this one a great deal more. This is categorized as a spy thriller; however, this book was more of a regular thriller in my opinion. The first two books definitely have more of a spy thriller vibe, though. I think this is why I enjoyed Winter Dawn more, as I’m not a huge spy thriller fan. This book can also be read as a stand-alone without missing any key aspects of the story!
💪🏼Winter is one of the most bada** women that you’re going to find in thriller novels. I wish I had half the strength of body and mind that she has! In Winter Dawn, she is assigned to keep a female US Senator alive while she is hunted by a group called Colosseum. This book had me on the edge of my seat for a great portion of it. There is a point where Winter says that she let out a breath that she didn’t know she was holding and I realized that I was doing the same thing 😂
💪🏼If a bada** heroine, a fascinating concept of reality TV in the future, and an as-of-yet unsurvivable challenge grab your attention, you will not want to miss this thriller! Check out the AUTHOR BIO and BLURB in comments!
Thank you to R & R Book Tours and Alex Callister for this #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
💪🏼Winter is one of the most bada** women that you’re going to find in thriller novels. I wish I had half the strength of body and mind that she has! In Winter Dawn, she is assigned to keep a female US Senator alive while she is hunted by a group called Colosseum. This book had me on the edge of my seat for a great portion of it. There is a point where Winter says that she let out a breath that she didn’t know she was holding and I realized that I was doing the same thing 😂
💪🏼If a bada** heroine, a fascinating concept of reality TV in the future, and an as-of-yet unsurvivable challenge grab your attention, you will not want to miss this thriller! Check out the AUTHOR BIO and BLURB in comments!
Thank you to R & R Book Tours and Alex Callister for this #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 30, 2022
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free for a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you to Alex and R&R Book Tours for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book. I loved the first two books in this series and I was very excited to return to this series. This book is set before the first two so you could start with this book if you wanted to.
Winter is one of a kind. She looks very unassuming. A 21-year-old who looks like an overgrown teenager. Most people make the mistake of underestimating Winter. She is one kick-ass woman who will easily knock you off your feet.
In this book, there is some real freaky spy stuff going on. The sort of things that make you question what is real and what isn’t. I’m still not really sure, to be honest. Colosseum is downright scary. I don’t think I could even imagine something that scary.
Alex’s writing style is fast and full of action. I love that the MC is female as most spy thrillers tend to have a male MC.
I understand that there's going to be a fourth book and I cannot wait to read it! If you are looking for a fast-paced spy/action book then this one's for you.
Thank you to Alex and R&R Book Tours for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book. I loved the first two books in this series and I was very excited to return to this series. This book is set before the first two so you could start with this book if you wanted to.
Winter is one of a kind. She looks very unassuming. A 21-year-old who looks like an overgrown teenager. Most people make the mistake of underestimating Winter. She is one kick-ass woman who will easily knock you off your feet.
In this book, there is some real freaky spy stuff going on. The sort of things that make you question what is real and what isn’t. I’m still not really sure, to be honest. Colosseum is downright scary. I don’t think I could even imagine something that scary.
Alex’s writing style is fast and full of action. I love that the MC is female as most spy thrillers tend to have a male MC.
I understand that there's going to be a fourth book and I cannot wait to read it! If you are looking for a fast-paced spy/action book then this one's for you.
December 11, 2021
This is book 3 as well as book 0 in the series. Weird, I hear you saying. Well, yes and no. Let me explain. :)
It’s book 3 because it takes us on a new adventure with Winter as the leading lady, but it’s book 0 because she also takes us back to where it all started.
When you think about the name ‘Summer’, you picture a sunny person. When you come across the name ‘Winter’, you think it must be a cold, heartless person. I admit this Winter sometimes acts like that, but don’t we all from time to time hide our true personality for whatever reason?
We also see glimpse from the other side of her character and I can assure you she can be as hard as diamond, but soft as butter too.
I am so happy that I am not a famous person. At least now I won’t be picked to be the prey…
I enjoyed this book, but it was not my favourite one of the series. In my opinion the other two books have more raw emotions and touched my heart a lot more and deeper. 4 stars
Thank you
It’s book 3 because it takes us on a new adventure with Winter as the leading lady, but it’s book 0 because she also takes us back to where it all started.
When you think about the name ‘Summer’, you picture a sunny person. When you come across the name ‘Winter’, you think it must be a cold, heartless person. I admit this Winter sometimes acts like that, but don’t we all from time to time hide our true personality for whatever reason?
We also see glimpse from the other side of her character and I can assure you she can be as hard as diamond, but soft as butter too.
I am so happy that I am not a famous person. At least now I won’t be picked to be the prey…
I enjoyed this book, but it was not my favourite one of the series. In my opinion the other two books have more raw emotions and touched my heart a lot more and deeper. 4 stars
Thank you
January 29, 2022
Winter Dawn is the prequel to the first two books, and it actually is fine to read first. I was able to follow along but I will definitely be reading the rest. This book explains how Winter became who she is. And she is a badass! I love a strong, female lead and that’s what we get here!!
This book is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end. The pacing was perfect and kept me hooked all the way through. You know when you really should put the book down and go to sleep, but you can’t? Not a book I suggest starting late at night unless you like being up all night!
Brilliant characters, awesome writing, and excellent plot makes for a awesome book. I can’t wait to pick up the other books in this series. Highly recommended!!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
This book is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end. The pacing was perfect and kept me hooked all the way through. You know when you really should put the book down and go to sleep, but you can’t? Not a book I suggest starting late at night unless you like being up all night!
Brilliant characters, awesome writing, and excellent plot makes for a awesome book. I can’t wait to pick up the other books in this series. Highly recommended!!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
January 20, 2024
"The internet was the ultimate manifestation of human progress –an infinitely powerful network connecting every living soul on the planet –and what did those living souls do with it? Masturbate and watch hunts-to-the-death on TV."
Someone make this into a movie 🎥🍿🎬
This is one of those books where the less you know the better.
Colosseum game = epic
•Action-thriller
•Fast paced
•Strong female protag 👊♀️
•Cat & mouse
•Mind games 🃏
•Beat the clock ⏳
Favourite characters: Winter/Boy Next Door
Favourite scenes: GCHQ training
"In the absence of light, darkness prevails."
Someone make this into a movie 🎥🍿🎬
This is one of those books where the less you know the better.
Colosseum game = epic
•Action-thriller
•Fast paced
•Strong female protag 👊♀️
•Cat & mouse
•Mind games 🃏
•Beat the clock ⏳
Favourite characters: Winter/Boy Next Door
Favourite scenes: GCHQ training
"In the absence of light, darkness prevails."
January 21, 2022
𝗔 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵. 𝗔𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿. 𝗔𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼.
A prequel to the Winter series, it focuses on kick-ass Winter, a female operative. It follows her struggles against a group called the Colosseum, who hunt high profile people to the death, to the horror, and sometimes excitement, of their livestream audience.
This is my first book I've read in the series, and I'm hooked. I loved the character of Winter. The book is pure adrenaline and leaves you hanging deliciously at the end!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
A prequel to the Winter series, it focuses on kick-ass Winter, a female operative. It follows her struggles against a group called the Colosseum, who hunt high profile people to the death, to the horror, and sometimes excitement, of their livestream audience.
This is my first book I've read in the series, and I'm hooked. I loved the character of Winter. The book is pure adrenaline and leaves you hanging deliciously at the end!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
January 25, 2022
If you enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you are going to absolutely love this book. From that start, you're drawn in and on the edge of your seat. Callister is a master at building suspense, and weaving in twists you'll never see coming. I was reluctant to put this down once I started, and loved Winter's attitude. She's strong, smart, skilled, and is completely no-nonsense. A unique heroine who will capture your heart while making it race. I cannot recommend this book enough, as it truly lives up to the promises made in the blurb.
May 10, 2021
So far this is my favourite of the Winter series. I really enjoyed the entire story around the Senator and the battle of the women against the mighty Colosseum. Winter is so impressive and I love her acerbic British sense of humour and irony. It's a treat that Eli Potter narrates all the books and introducing Lorelei King as the Senator was inspired. This series is a breath of fresh air and I definitely recommend it.
May 27, 2021
2.5 stars it starts well but the second half is pretty bleh.
Can we just consider that a character who appears in this book for a significant portion exists solely as “Avrils Mum”. This is shrugged off as Winter not caring about people’s names. However the book is written from two perspectives neither of whom seems interested in her name, nor does the woman seem to proffer her name despite taking time to explain how her daughter has two names. These are the things that keep me up at night.
Can we just consider that a character who appears in this book for a significant portion exists solely as “Avrils Mum”. This is shrugged off as Winter not caring about people’s names. However the book is written from two perspectives neither of whom seems interested in her name, nor does the woman seem to proffer her name despite taking time to explain how her daughter has two names. These are the things that keep me up at night.
February 11, 2023
A prequel to the previous two books in the series, which follows Winter’s initial recruitment and one her earliest missions protecting a U.S. senator from dying in a horrible game show called Colosseum that we learn is the forerunner of Firestorm, the organisation that features predominantly in the first two books. As with the other books in the series there is plenty of action and the pace is frenetic.
July 22, 2024
Great thriller fiction. It is a worthy prequel to the previous two books in the series. It was brilliantly narrated again by Ell Potter, an excellent voice actor.
This book would've been five stars, but for one scene (the one in the pub, for those who've read it), it jarred me out of the narrative and seemed incredibly contrived. Because the scene was pivotal to the whole narrative and the relationship between two key characters, it let the entire plot down for me.
This book would've been five stars, but for one scene (the one in the pub, for those who've read it), it jarred me out of the narrative and seemed incredibly contrived. Because the scene was pivotal to the whole narrative and the relationship between two key characters, it let the entire plot down for me.
February 2, 2023
Definitely my least favourite of the 3 of the “Winter” series so far.
By going back to Winter’s beginning we see her not as confident in her abilities, which is weird after her being so good the previous 2 books.
It’s confusing switching between Anna, The Senator, and Winter, especially with the time jumps too.
By going back to Winter’s beginning we see her not as confident in her abilities, which is weird after her being so good the previous 2 books.
It’s confusing switching between Anna, The Senator, and Winter, especially with the time jumps too.
Read
February 12, 2021was confused as the book says number 3 in series when I purchased it but in reality it should be book 1 being a prequel does not work as well as it leaves reader confused after reading the previous books until the end
May 27, 2022
This series is just unbelievable fun. I have missed Winter. It was awesome to get a little bit more about her background as we still know very little. We also get to see how this assignment changes her forever.
January 8, 2026
This is by far the best book i have ever read!!!!!!! I am easily 500+ book ready across lots of genres......hands down the best series i have read! Audible version is incredible !!!!!!!
Please read you are in for a ride !!!
Please read you are in for a ride !!!
Read
January 5, 2021DNF
March 18, 2022
Did not enjoy the prequel as book #3. Where’s the prince of darkness? It might have been ok as book #1 …but you can’t tee up Alec and then have him not show up in the third instalment.
April 9, 2022
Loved it! I wish the wait for the next wasn’t so long! But then, they’re always worth the wait.
May 5, 2022
Another excellent installment. Good to get some backstory. Good to find out how 2 characters came to work together.
Looking forward to Winter Falling
Looking forward to Winter Falling
July 12, 2022
Really enjoyed this, kept wondering how it tied into the earlier books as I didn’t realise it was a prequel. Great narration and I loved “Anna” as a character felt quite relatable.
March 20, 2023
Disappointing prequel :-(
February 20, 2024
Not as good as the first two but I appreciate the origin story as background for the others in the series.
November 15, 2025
Another great book. A prequel to the previous two, but it didn’t skip a beat. There were a few ah… moments and smiles.
June 5, 2023
Audiobook Review:
This might be my favourite one yet. Winter meets the Hunger Games- yes please! Loved this prequel and getting more of Winter’s backstory. I especially loved the story from Winter’s days in training and how she came to meet the characters we now know extremely well.
Really loved the two protagonist format even though I feel like Ell Potter remaining as the narrator for both could have worked. That being said I really liked Lorelei King’s reading of the senator however anytime she read for Winter, the accent was really not good and also completely off on vibe or character from the hard work Ell Potter has done to bring Winter to life. It was very jarring and took me completely out of it. It was a relief when Ell took over the narrative again.
This might be my favourite one yet. Winter meets the Hunger Games- yes please! Loved this prequel and getting more of Winter’s backstory. I especially loved the story from Winter’s days in training and how she came to meet the characters we now know extremely well.
Really loved the two protagonist format even though I feel like Ell Potter remaining as the narrator for both could have worked. That being said I really liked Lorelei King’s reading of the senator however anytime she read for Winter, the accent was really not good and also completely off on vibe or character from the hard work Ell Potter has done to bring Winter to life. It was very jarring and took me completely out of it. It was a relief when Ell took over the narrative again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews