I purchased this book very early in 2019 or late in 2018 after reading an article about "the stellar suspense/thriller/adventure debut novels of 2018." I do remember it was the only one in the list that intrigued me.
The Wolves of Winter is set in the Yukon wilderness (I do have a fondness for novels set in true wilderness), it's a post-apocalyptic novel (I occasionally succumb to that genre), and was critiqued as having compelling characters, not to mention a great dog.
The suspense of this family trying to survive a nuclear winter in one of the coldest places on Earth was mind-blowingly fascinating, and then the complications arise: Strange people arrive on the scene. What do they want? Who are they? Where did they come from? How do they fit in with the end-of-the-world scenario? Important questions for their survival.
I could not stop reading today, partly because I would have to take leave of the book's spell and suffer mentally the full consequences of my litany of "this is the most horrendous cold I've had in years" symptoms. Just don't go there. (Ken informed me this afternoon that the grocery stores are totally out of boxes of tissues, the shelves are EMPTY except for a few boxes of the terrible brands that are no good.)
I'd love a good night's sleep, but if that fails, I have some good books on hand, of the uncomplicated, suspenseful sort.
This must be a great read if it could make you forget how miserable your cold is. I hope you're back to top form soon!
ReplyDeleteHi Katrina,
DeleteIt was great because of the damnable situation I'm in with this really unforgiving cold. If I had been at top form, I would have been progressing with my classics, and with Midnight in Chernobyl. Thank goodness that there are great books for the brain dead!
I also tend to like post apocalyptic books. I do occasionally find them disturbing however. This one sounds really good. I have done some reading on what Nuclear Winter might be like, it is a terrifying prospect.
ReplyDeleteHi Brian,
DeleteI have one classic post-apocalyptic novel that I had trouble finishing--Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It was extremely popular the year it was published, at least a decade back, but it was harrowing.
Wolves in Winter is a somewhat more hopeful book, if anything post-apocalyptic can be called "hopeful."
Gosh, really sorry that you're so ill with your cold, Judith. I had one like it in January so I can sympathise.
ReplyDeleteThis book sound rivetting. Post-apocolytic and dystopian novels always make me feel very uneasy. I avoid them a bit, I have to admit, which makes me feel a bit of a wimp. But this one does sounds gripping. All that said, the BLCC sent me two of this sort of novel to review, one about a pandemic and the other an 'apocolytic novel' about a cover-up over nuclear weapons testing. Seems I might need to put aside my sensitivities for a bit...
Hi Cath,
DeleteThank you so much for commiserating. If you have interest in sci-fi, you might enjoy this one because it ended on a hopeful note, and the emphasis was more on suspense rather than horror.
Now the two the BLCC sent you have me curious. And, I'm sorry, what's the BLCC? British Library Consortium? My mind is doing tricks with the acronym.
I used to be a huge sci-fi reader but now am only an occasional one, still enjoy the genre though.
DeleteBLCC is the British Library Crime Classics... only these are not crime books and when I checked they're just 'British Library' published. The titles are The Tide Went Out and The Darkest of Nights and they're both by Charles Eric Maine. If you think you might have any interest at all in reading them I will happily send them to you when I've read them. That might not be for some time but I know you won't mind as your tbr pile is every bit as big as mine I'm sure. LOL!
Cath,
DeleteIt's interesting that now the BL seems to be doing classics of sci-fi. I'll be interested in hearing what you think of them, when you're able to get to them.
You've got that right about the TBR Piles!! Piles and Piles. I am doing better at axing away at them this year. The more I study my library, the more I see that I want to read.
Good luck with yours!!
I like the fact that this is set in the Yukon: too few stories are set there. Hope you're feeling better soon! (or, now!)
ReplyDeleteThe author, an avid outdoorsman, currently resides in British Columbia. And thank you very much for the good wishes--I want to be better, like right now!
DeleteJudith, sorry to hear about that really bad cold. It is a good thing that you have books to distract you. I haven't had a cold since early January but at work many people have been out off and on since January with various colds.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very good. I like post-apocalyptic novels and the setting sounds good too. I will put it on my list to look for.
Hi Tracy,
DeleteI think you might enjoy this one. If nothing else it is fast-paced, about 250 pages, and a bit of a thrill.
I am amazed by how sick I've been with this darn cold. Books and movies in the evening make it better, but they are the only things that help.