Title: The Wolves of Winter
Author: Tyrell Johnson
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Station Eleven meets The Hunger Games in this ruthless, captivating story of a young woman’s survival in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon after the rest of the world has collapsed.

As the old world dies, we all must choose to become predators. Or become prey.

The old world has been ravaged by war and disease, and as far as Lynn McBride is concerned, her family could be the last one left on earth. For seven years, the McBrides have eked out a meagre existence in the still, white wilderness of the Yukon. But this is not living. This is survival on the brink.

Into this fragile community walk new threats, including the enigmatic fugitive, Jax, who holds secrets about the past and, possibly, keys to a better future. And then there’s Immunity, the pre‑war organization that was supposed to save humankind from the flu. They’re still out there, enforcing order and conducting experiments—but is their work for the good of humankind or is something much more sinister at play? In the face of almost certain extinction, Lynn and her family must learn to hunt as a pack or die alone in the cold.

Breakout debut novelist Tyrell Johnson weaves a captivating tale of humanity stretched far beyond its breaking point, of family and the bonds of love forged when everything else is lost. Reminiscent of Station Eleven and The Hunger Games, this is a classic and enthralling post‑apocalyptic adventure and a celebration of the human spirit.

Review:

This book is a great way to start of the new year! It’s a cross between the Hunger Games, Station Eleven, and even a bit of The Maze Runner.

I love dystopia stories. Some seem so realistic, especially with the way the world is going these days. In this story, there has been nuclear war that destroyed a lot of the world. Asia was decimated by the Asian flu, which eventually made its way to North America. This future is terrifying, but unfortunately it is believable.

I loved the character of Lynn. She’s conflicted and takes chances but she sticks with her decisions. This doesn’t always have the best outcomes, but it made the story thrilling and unpredictable.

Also, while I’ve been reading this story, the weather in Toronto has been breaking records for how cold it is. This has nothing to do with the story, but it made me sympathize with the cold Yukon environment that the characters were experiencing. It really set the scene.

From the ending of the story, I hope there will be more to come. I’ll definitely be looking for it!

Title: The Christmas Holiday
Author: Maxine Morrey
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: HQ Digital
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 22, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fall in love this winter on a romantic trip around the world ending in a fairy-tale winter wedding!

As winter comes to London, journalist Mia Walker is desperately hoping for her big break as a travel writer, dreaming of exotic locations and sun-soaked beaches. When she’s invited to write a romantic travel piece that ends in a huge winter wedding in London, she jumps at the chance. The only trouble is, the photographer is renowned adventure-junkie Hunter Scott, who Mia last saw five years ago when she ended their engagement.

It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and Mia knows she’d be mad to say no – even if it does mean spending weeks travelling round the world with the one man she never wanted to see again! But as the wedding approaches, and the magic of Christmas begins to take hold, Mia can’t help looking out for mistletoe – and wishing she hadn’t cancelled her own engagement after all…

Review:

This is a unique romantic comedy.

The dynamic of Mia and Hunter’s former relationship was quite funny at times. They bickered like an old married couple, though they don’t want to get back together. We also don’t learn about what ended their engagement for a long time, which keeps their relationship intriguing.

The way that Mia and Hunter go on a trip with Olivia and her fiancé around the world was unusual but entertaining. I didn’t really get why they had to document the trip in that way. It was a nice way to showcase different parts of the world in the story, but I didn’t see it as a realistic trip.

Some parts were glossed over when they should have been described in detail. For example, Mia gets injured on one of their excursions but it isn’t described. Yet, other activities where nothing exciting happens are told in the story. There should have been more action in the scenes where they did activities and travelled.

I think the story could have been given a better name. Olivia and Sandeep are having a Christmas themed wedding, but that’s the only Christmas thing about the book. It takes place in the winter, but since Christmas doesn’t play an important role throughout the whole story, I don’t think it should be in the title.

Overall, this is a cute and funny story.