Review: ‘The Wolves Of Winter’, by Tyrell Johnson

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Forget the old days. Forget summer. Forget warmth. Forget anything that doesn’t help you survive.

Lynn McBride has learned much since society collapsed in the face of nuclear war and the relentless spread of disease. As memories of her old life haunt her, she has been forced to forge ahead in the snow-covered Canadian Yukon, learning how to hunt and trap to survive.

But her fragile existence is about to be shattered. Shadows of the world before have found her tiny community—most prominently in the enigmatic figure of Jax, who sets in motion a chain of events that will force Lynn to fulfil a destiny she never imagined.

My Review

I sat down at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and thought I’d make a start on The Wolves of Winter. Three hours later I returned to the world somewhat stunned. I’d been completely immersed in the Yukon winter, and following Lynn’s adventures as she finds out the truth of the disasters that have taken over her world, and comes of age. I loved this book; the plot was gripping, the characters engaging and description immersive. The twists, with the introduction of the sinister ‘Immunity’ and the secrets in the McBride family past, kept me reading when I wanted to take my afternoon, post-Sunday dinner, nap.

The lead-up to the disasters that sent the McBride family from Chicago to Alaska are slowly revealed as Lynn remembers, while living through a new set of disasters. What she learns in looking back and in her adventures, opens up her world and her own past. At the same time Lynn has some personal development.

I want a follow up. Do Lynn and Jax get to Vancouver? Do they run into ‘Immunity’ again? What happened to Jaryl? How do Ken and Mary get on alone in their Yukon cabins? So many questions.

4/5