BLOG TOUR: Winter, White and Wicked – Shannon Dittemore (ARC Review)

Welcome to my stop on the Winter, White and Wicked book tour! Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for organizing the tour and allowing me to participate as a tour host!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Winter, White and Wicked
Author: Shannon Dittemore
Release: October 13, 2020
Publisher: Abrams Books
Genre: YA Fantasy

Twice-orphaned Sylvi has chipped out a niche for herself 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.

Sylvi likes the road, where no one asks who her parents were or what she thinks of the rebels in the north. But when her best friend, Lenore, runs off with the rebels, Sylvi must make a haul too late in the season for a smuggler she wouldn’t normally work with, the infamous Mars Dresden. Alongside his team—Hyla, a giant warrior woman and Kyn, a boy with skin like stone—Sylvi will do whatever it takes to save her friend.

But when the time comes, she’ll have to choose: safety, anonymity, and the favor of Winter—or the future of the island that she calls home.

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REVIEW

ARC provided by Abrams Books through NetGalley.

Winter, White and Wicked has been constantly described as Mad Max meets Frozen. And while I can’t attest to the Mad Max aspect, I can without a doubt say that this book definitely exudes a Frozen-esque dystopian vibe that just worked. Winter, White and Wicked was exhilarating, page-turning, and full of non-stop action.

Shannon Dittermore is a very talented author, there is absolutely no question about that. I was hooked early on and the story’s forward moving-plot and non-stop action kept me reading page after page. The clear descriptions and vivid imagery throughout easily transported me into the book’s setting. I could almost feel the icy wind biting my cheek, see the snowy backdrop, hear the engine of the rig as it made it’s treacherous way through the mountainous path. One of the best parts of reading is getting lost in the world, and Winter, White and Wicked did not disappoint.

The mythology that the plot and story centers around was very clever and well-written. It was detailed, and contained just the right amount of magic to feel both believable and whimsy. And I really appreciate how the information was given to readers: just enough was introduced in the prologue to pull you in, and then more is gradually added as the evolves. I found this pace perfect. I was able to get grasp of the story and then build upon my knowledge.

Winter, White and Wicked was an excellent story. The kind of book that will transport you to another world to get lost in for awhile. From the creative mythology to the vivid descriptions, it was easy to fall into the book and be captivated by the pages. I definitely recommend for anyone looking for a dystopian-esque fantasy full of grit, great characters, and magic.

★ ★ ★ ★

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shannon Dittemore is a young adult author, conference speaker, and mentor. Her books include the Angel Eyes novels (Thomas Nelson Fiction) and the forthcoming Winter, White and Wicked, to be published by Abrams Books in the fall of 2020. Since 2013, Shannon has taught mentoring tracks at a local school where she provides junior high and high school students with an introduction to writing and the publishing industry. She writes weekly for Go Teen Writers, a blog recognized by Writer’s Digest three years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection. Shannon’s stories often feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. In many ways, she’s writing her own life story.