My goodness gracious I needed this type of book and Shannon Dittemore delivered with Winter, White and Wicked.

First, let me say CONGRATULATIONS to your book birthday Winter, White and Wicked! You are now out in the world and ready for consumption.

Review Time!

First of all, I love the premise of this story. The whole trucker/dystopian vibe is not something usually done and it was just amazing here. Not only that, but the world building for the history of this island was unique. The author built a gritty but magical world, that wasn’t forgiving and full of people that learned to survive.

Second, THE CHARACTERS. Oh my goodness, we know I love good side characters and we are bursting at the seams here! The main character is also fantastic, shout out to Sylvi, but I’m team Kyn. Also, let’s take a moment to appreciate Hyla, as she’s the real MVP of this book. As you know, that’s my opinion, but feel free to read the book and argue with me. #FightMe

I do have a favorite quote from the book and will share it with you all.
“Yesterday does matter.’ The thought is a dangerous one, the words mutinous on my tongue. “Understanding what happened, it’s how we’re going to save tomorrow.” (Heavy but so good)

Lastly, the writing on this one was gripping. The reader is in it for the long haul (PUN INTENDED), and kept chugging along with every action packed moment. I would recommend this to anyone that is feeling daring, adventurous, or just the need for speed and action.

I will say based on that ending, I hope we have a book two in the works. If it ends there I will be…forever guessing.

Overall Summary:

Overall Rating: 4 Stars
Plot: 4 Stars
Character Development: 4 Stars
Dialogue: 4 Stars
Writing: 4 Stars
HAPPY READING~~
Ash <3

~I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.~

I loved this book so much! I was apprehensive going into it because I love Frozen, but I don't know that much about trucking and I've never seen any Mad Max movies. Was I only going to like half the book? Nope, I liked the whole thing. Sylvi is the main character, and she is real and flawed and wants to protect the people she loves at all costs. She is favored by the spirit Winter, who has control over the whole island. Sylvi spends the frozen months driving runs around the island for a living, which is the safest time to go since the ice creates the only roads on the island. She likes being alone best, but she's forced to work with three other very different people in order to get her sister/best friend back. Along the way, Sylvi's journey of self-discovery is profound and definitely what I enjoyed most. Seeing where she started and where she ended was very rewarding as a reader. A close second was getting to know Mars, Kyndel, and Hyla, the other most prominent characters, and seeing how the author developed the invisible yet very present character of Winter. Winter, White and Wicked is a standalone from what I gather, but I could easily enjoy another story that continues Sylvi's journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes a good YA adventure. There's something for everyone.

Buy, Borrow, or Bypass: If you are someone who buys YA, this needs to be part of your collection. I usually favor series over standalones, but I already know I will reread this one in the future. Plus, the cover is extremely shiny and beautiful. If you mostly borrow, then go for it. But don't bypass this one! The writing is wonderful, and you are sure to fall in love with it, the characters, and the world.

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

This was a hard book for me to rate because I struggled a bit in the beginning. I had trouble getting into the story, and I was very confused about the world, and I didn't really care much about the characters (and one just pissed me off a lot when I was reading, although I do think that was the point). But once I got into it and more of the world was explained, I started to enjoy it a lot more.

Once I understood more of the world, and the history of it, I found it to be really fascinating, and I did grow to care more about the characters, which is also good. There were twists and turns that I didn't expect, and the ending has me interested in a sequel. Overall, I think this was a really unique fantasy and I would recommend it to people who enjoy YA fantasy.

Take Grisha or Mistborn, mix it with Snowpiercer or Mad Max and sprinkle more YA vibes and you'll get Winter, White and Wicked. In this book, Winter is not a season, but a conscious being that can grant one magical powers. It's also infinitely dangerous. What could possibly go wrong?
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The book follows Sylvi, who lives on Layce, an island cursed by eternal winter. Alone in her truck, she takes comfort in two things: the solitude of the roads and the favor of Winter, an icy spirit who has protected her since she was a child. When her best friend, Lenore, runs off turns to the infamous smuggler Mars for help. There, she meets a whole team of misfits.⁠
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⁠The book comes to an unexpected climax, which is a big plus. Other things I enjoyed included the main character, who was not the perfect YA protagonist you'd expect, but a girl that some considered selfish, the personalization of a season, and the way magic entailed some consequences. I'm also a sucker for trucker stories, as my grandfather used to be a trucked. But he drove in a completely different climate (Libya isn't exactly cold).

Otherwise, it's not exactly my cup of tea. If you enjoy large casts, embarking on quests and convoluted magic and political/social systems, it's definitely up your alley.

It was a decent book. I wasn't super wow-ed but I liked it. I think it had a solid overall plot and the characters were good. Average read for an above-average premise. Not much stands out to say more.

Winter White and Wicked is the perfect blend of current day technology and magic. I love the way Shannon Dittemore was able to recreate the dark whimsy of classic fairytales and mix it with something brand new. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

"Kyn's eyes are wine and rage. They're passion and loss. They're flame, the embers of a fire that could die as easily as catch."

Thank you to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was initially drawn to this book by the beautiful cover, and I immediately requested it. The premise was really interesting and different from other YA fantasy.

The malicious spirit of Winter has cursed the island of Layce, and yet, she favours Sylvi, who has heard her voice since she was a child. As a rig driver, Sylvi likes the solitude of her truck and is in no way interested in joining the rebellion. However, when her best friend, Lenore, signs up to their cause, Sylvi knows she must find her and bring her home. This leads to the acceptance of a job from the notorious rebel smuggler, Mars Dresden. She must transport him, his companions and his haul across Winter's treacherous mountains, despite the late season and the risks involved.

I really enjoyed Sylvi's development throughout the book. She was fierce, intelligent and has grown up hearing Winter. I also really liked Kyn's personality and I thought him and Sylvi complimented each other perfectly. The novel was very character driven, and I was invested in everyone's story. The romance was slow and believable, and there was plenty of action throughout. The world-building was also well-done and I liked the contrasting versions of the same creation myth.

However, only small snippets of world-building and history are released as you read on. By the end, I fully understood this beautiful, fantasy setting, but during, I was left confused and lost. The pacing also varied, with some sections being really gripping and other chapters being slow and lengthy. Overall, the book was enjoyable and I would recommend curling up in front of a fire and reading it.

Sylvi drives the frozen tundra, alone except for Winter, the spirit who grants her protection on the icy, lonely island of Layce. It is a harsh existence, and Sylvi's parents, first her birth parents, then her adopted parents, have both perished. Although Sylvi's friend Lenore is still alive, she no longer travels with Sylvi, and has joined the rebel cause in Northern Layce. Sylvi isn't concerned with who's on top, so long as she's left to her own devices, but then smuggler Mars Dresden offers her a job to support the rebellion, and Sylvi decides to make the drive. Along the way, Sylvi must come to grips with the nature of her solitude, the reality of her relationship with Winter, and what it means to be human in a world where spring never comes, and the people in it are almost as cold as the island itself.

What an action-packed, gritty tale of survival this was! Sylvi and Winter have a peculiar relationship at the onset, and this story doesn't waste much time on early exposition, favoring instead a tempo and feeling of danger on an island that'll just as soon bury you as allow you to survive. Mars and his group aren't Sylvi's favorite at first, but they are tough and much like the family Sylvi wishes was still alive. I really enjoyed how Sylvi and Kyn become closer over time. Of course, with how dark this story's premise is, there are twists and turns that will churn your stomach and make you yell at the pages, and the worldbuilding will encircle you like a cold winter storm. Assumptions are frequently challenged throughout the story, and Sylvi learns a lot about herself and how she wants to live before the last page turns. Winter, White and Wicked is as sharp and dangerous as a glistening icicle, and also beautiful in its crystalline perspective of a world hardened by the winds of Winter. Get your parka out for this one, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

This was a 3.5 star rating to me. Not 3. It was better than a 3, but didn't leave me with the sense of enjoyment that I would bump it to 4Stars.

Ok, now to the review. Sylvi is content with her life as a rig driver on an island cursed to an eternal winter. She revels in her solitude and her connection to a wintery spirit named Winter, who she's had a connection with since she was a child. When her best friend runs off with the rebels, Sylvi makes a deal with a shifty rebel leader to use her rig to haul a load across a treacherous pass. She's soon confronted with the darker side of Winter as secrets come to life about her island's history as well as her own. Sylvi is now faced with a choice: to go back to the anonymity of her old life or to step up and claim her newfound birthright.

Winter, White and Wicked was hard for me to get into at first. Part of it is the slow pacing at the beginning of the novel, but I just had trouble adjusting to a fantasy with big rigs in them. It was an interesting mix. But I did get over that, and the book does pick up in terms of action and plot lines. I will say that the fantasy world of Winter, White and Wicked is really really unique, unlike anything I've ever read before. I also was fascinated and pulled into the lore of Sylvi's lost heritage and how Winter came under her control, and the history of how the island was cursed to eternal winter. The world-building, once it gets going and the big reveals happen, is probably the strongest part of this novel. It was just the pacing issues and the facts that the characters had some annoying little moments that caused me not to connect with this book as I normally would, but it was still really good. Winter White and Wicked is a story about the choice we all face to run from our problems or to face them head-on, a story with lots of action that fans of Frozen and Mad Max will enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the review copy!

Okay first... Lets give this book cover some love!!!! I loved this story so much. It gave me all feels I was looking for. I was so excited to see when I got approved! This plot and story were done great and so easy to follow. The characters were written very well!

I highly recommend this read!

“That’s how I first heard Winter. Her words fell lightly into my head as I lay there, soft and enchanting like the snow gathering just outside on the ground.”

Ms. Dittemore has created a solely unique and complex world in Winter, White and Wicked; one that is quite unlike any I’ve read before. The synopsis says it’s Mad Max: Fury Road meet Frozen but it’s really so much more. The island of Layce has been cursed by the spirit Winter, a cunning spirit who has manipulated and beguiled her way into an eternal winter. It’s a brutal world full of the magical dust Kol – deadly and crazy-making to most, Winter-made abominations that will tear you limb from limb and a ruling Majority that keeps the people down.
Sylvi is the main character and favored by the spirit Winter. Winter speaks often to Sylvi and has since she was a child, has even saved her from a vicious attack but does Winter really care about Sylvi or are there more wicked reasons for her favor at heart? Sylvi is well-known for her truck driving skills and would rather be off running her truck, the Dragon, in solitude than anywhere else. She doesn’t know who her parents are but was taken in by a man and his granddaughter, Lenore (Leni), after she was found in the woods by Leni. This is the only family she knows. When Leni decides to run off and join the Rebels fighting the Majority, Sylvi makes the choice to team up with a notorious smuggler, Mars Dresden and his team to make the treacherous trip to save Leni.

WWaW is non-stop, high-octane action in a world full of danger! I loved how the general feelings of mistrust eventually grew in to something more between some of the characters. This is one of my favorite tropes! Also, this is a strongly character driven plot, another favorite! Every character is well-developed and emotive, I am invested in them all and I know there has to be a sequel because the ending just left me wanting more. More of the characters, more of this world, more of the story!

I highly recommend this if you enjoy unique fantasy with dystopian elements!

Winter White & Wicked takes the YA trope of going on a journey or quest to save the world, & twists it into something fresh & original, using nothing but an ice-rig & a badass driver! I absolutely loved travelling through this wintery world in the warm cab of Sylvi’s Dragon, especially when facing danger over & over again, & the author did a fantastic job of telling a great story whilst mostly confined to a very small setting. I also loved the bitterness of the magic in this world & the brutal history uncovered throughout the book. I never wanted to put my kindle down whilst reading this story & I could have continued travelling with Sylvi & company for days & days. I’m so excited about this series because it feels so fresh & mysterious, & I cannot wait for more people to get caught up in Winter’s magic!

⚠️ This book contains addition, violence, torture, murder, kidnap, gun use, fighting/killing animals (wolves), a form of slavery & death of family members. There is also one scene including, & a few passages describing of the memory of, an attempted rape of a child, which her guardian allows. ⚠️

I rounded up, but my review sits at 3.75 .// 5

This one is hard to put into words because there was a lot about this book I liked, but there was also a lot that I didn't like. I enjoyed the magic system and history of this world, especially with the Winter entity. I thought the history was portrayed well and we get a good idea of how the different cultures view their creation. I liked how the characters had different interpretations of the events that happened in the past and the ones happening in front of them. It added depth to our story besides "Winter is an evil spirit" and "Winter is a blessed one".

What I didn't like so much was all the information about trucks/cars/rigs that I had no idea what was going on. The premise is that she's hauling something across the country to the rebels as her best friend left her to go be with them. The second the book started talking about the rig or anything related to her rig, I was absolutely lost. I know nothing about it and I got a little bored reading these scenes because besides crashing into something, I had no idea what was going on.

Besides my ignorance to transportation, the fantasy element was really cool and I'm interested in what happens next! I think this could be a really cool fantasy series, but I want to see more moments of our characters fighting Winter rather than being used/using her.

Either way, I like this book and I think even with my ignorance to how a rig works - this was a solid fantasy book. I can't wait for the next one!

Three Stars: Good book, may read again

This is the first book by Shannon Dittemore I've read. When I learned that it had to do with semi trucks and a frozen fantasy world, I knew that it sounds like a book I'd enjoy.
I didn't end up enjoying Winter, White, and Wicked as much as I had hoped to, but it still was a good book. I'm also trying to keep the fact that I read an e-copy of it, and I don't read e-books as well as paperbacks. I just don't get into the story as much.

What I Liked:
First off, the world building in this novel is super extensive. The world feels larger than the book, which is great. You know that there is so much more of Layce to explore. Dittemore also has fleshed-out history and mythology fo the world, which she also ties skillfully into the plot, making them not just cool tidbits. There are also a number of different fantasy races, which was cool. I haven't really read of a race like the Shiv before, so that was neat.
I also really loved the trucking elements. I have a soft spot for semi trucks because of family ties, so I loved seeing trucking in a story. I do wish that I had been a little more prevalent, but that's probably just a me thing.

What I Didn't Like So Much:
I have to admit, I was really, really surprised by the amount of language in this story. Most of the time, Christian authors don't write swearing, or will just do in-world swearing. Winter, White, and Wicked has both real and in-world swearing. I think there was about ten instances of swearing. There is also a in-world swear word that felt uncomfortably like a real, strong swear word, and poped up a number of times throughout the book.
There were also a few instances of crude humor that didn't seem exactly necessary. Another thing for those who might care, Sylvi was raised by a prosititue, and a few things about her are mentioned.
I did find it a little hard to stay in the story, but that might have been because I was reading an e-copy. As I mentioned at the beginning, I have a really hard time getting sucked into e-books, so that was probably due to the edition I was reading of Winter, White, and Wicked.
The ending also felt a little too open. I know that Dittemore left it open on purpose, but I felt like the ending came too soon and there were a few more things that still should have been tied up. That too, though, could be because I read an e-copy, and you don't know exactly how many pages are left like you do when reading a paperback. So I may have not been aware that the ending was coming, if that makes sense.

TRIGGER WARNING:
There is a chapter involving assault. It is a hard scene to read. (I'm trying to write without spoilers here, so sorry if these sentences feel clunky). The adult who sees it does nothing about it, which is heartbreaking. The assault is stopped though by someone else.
Dittemore handles the scene carefully, but it did feel harder to read than some other books I've read that also have a brief assault in them.

Overall Thoughts:
Winter, White, and Wicked is original from other books I've read. The worldbuilding is fantastic. I loved the trucking element. The cover is beautiful.
However, there were some things I could have done without. If someone asks me about Winter, White, and Wicked, I will probably tell them that it feels very much like a regular, mainstream YA book, and you wouldn't know that it was written by a Christian author.
Will I read it again? Probably. Will I read it again often? Probably not. Would I recommend it to someone? It's not on my top recommendations list, but if someone asks me about it, I'll tell that that it's a fine read but also give them a few caveats.

This book started out as one I was dying to read. But sadly upon starting it I couldn’t get into it. The story was too abrupt and confusing and the world building was oddly done. The characters weren’t developed well enough for me to grasp them either. I’m sad to say that this story wasn’t one for me.

"She dreamed aloud of boarding a ship and sailing away from Layce to a land where the skies were always blue and the unveiled sun turned faces warm and brown."

The world building in this book was amazing. It matched the setting of the book so wonderfully that I found myself feeling as if I was in the cold, icy, frozen land right along with Sylvi.

There was so much action and I loved every minute of it. The obstacles that Sylvi and Mars had to face made it hard to stop reading at certain points. There were a few chapters where the pacing slowed down at bit and I was waiting for it to pick back up again, which fortunately it did.

I found the characters in this book intriguing and mysterious. I couldn’t wait to figure out more about Sylvi and her connection to Winter, but I found her to be a bit annoying at times. There were points in the story where I was ready for her to be strong and “fight” but she seemed to always back down and choose to run away instead. The book ended with so many openings for a second book so I’m hoping to see Sylvi grow and embrace her fury, to help her become stronger which would make an amazing character arc.

Besides that and the lack of romance (which is always my favorite part of a book) I really enjoyed this book and I can see this being a pretty amazing and unique series.
3.5/5 ✰’s

"Winter's more than words and wind. She's a chill that clings to everything. She's power. And, like all great powers, she likes her companionship recognized. If she's talking to you, you'll know."

"The children of Layce are told not to dwell on the past, yes? .... In contrast, we Paradyians are told not to promise the future"

Oh my gosh the ending was everything and it made the entire book.I didn't even realize the story had been heavily foreshadowing the entire time, but it all makes sense looking back. I love stories that can do this.

I fell in love with these characters, but I especially loved the world.

Sylvi has grown up with the spirit Winter as her companion and friend. Winter can be both kind and cruel, casting the island into eternal winter. Sylvi must team up with her nemesis Mars, who is in constant battle against Winter, in order to bring her runaway sister back.

The story drops you in the middle and brings the reader along a cold and snowy journey with almost non stop action, yet enough heartfelt and character developing moments to draw the reader further into the story as Sylvi tries to contend with her benevolent feelings towards Winter and the hardships Winter causes on the road.

Thanks to the publishers and #Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Unique and interesting story. It took me a bit to get into it but I enjoyed it once I started. Not my normal type of read but still a good one. Thank you netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book. I was worried about it because of some reviews I read but, all in all, I give it 4 stars! I'm looking forward to the next books release!

Thank you for the ARC Netgally.

I receive an eArc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First, that cover. Holy smokes it is stunning and it is what caught my eye. Second, the premise. While I’ve never seen Frozen (I will probably go to my grave no having seen that movie…), the promise of a Mad Max: Fury Road story is what sold me. How has there not been a story with this type of set up done? Maybe it has been and I’ve overlooked it, who knows, but what I do know is this story was phenomenal.

I was afraid I would struggle with this one as it’s a fantasy but it was brilliantly done. This story held nothing back as it was non-stop action from the very start. Full of complex characters, mythical creatures, ancient legends, mysterious secrets, and a lush magical world, this story was the entire package.

I want to talk about so many things that happened in this one as I enjoyed it so much, but I promise I won’t spoil anything. In one last ditch effort to hook you on wanting to read this powerhouse, I’ll leave you with these thoughts: some people are made of stone, some people can control Winter, Winter is a vicious foe, battle ready wolves, monsters that make themselves out of random body parts, and a flower that becomes addictive when burned and it drifts through the air. Curious yet? This author was far more morbid than I realized and I loved it. I absolutely enjoyed ever single second of this thrill ride. I cannot wait to read the next book.