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ARC Book Review: Winterkill – Kate A. Boorman


winterkillWinterkill
Author: Kate A. Boorman
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Dystopian
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Publisher: Amulet Books

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD

Summary:

In the woods outside Emmeline’s isolated settlement, a powerful enemy lurks, one that wiped out much of the population generations ago. Inside the settlement’s walls, Emmeline is watched for Waywardness – the rule-breaking behavior that sent her grandmother to her death. She knows she shouldn’t go into the trees or seek answers to questions no one else will ask.
When one of the settlement leaders asks for her hand, she could wipe the slate clean, ridding herself and her family of the Stain of her grandma’s crimes. But there’s something out there in the woods…and it’s calling to her.

 
First Sentence: Out here, I can feel the dead in the trees.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

My Review:

Winterkill, Winterkill, Winterkill. Oh, how I wanted to love you. When I first saw Winterkill‘s gorgeous cover, I needed it in my life asap. The cover just looked like a little Red Riding Hood retelling even though the summary of Winterkill says it’s anything but a little Red Riding Hood retelling. But who cares, the gorgeous cover could make me read anything it contained. Too bad in the end, I’m crying over the failed potential this gorgeous book had and how its summary lied to the world.

“Almighty!”…I’m not in any real danger; it’s not dusk for near three hours or more. But no good can come of taking His name in vain, alone in these woods. (ARC 1)

Honestly, Winterkill should come with a warning – it is a religious book disguised as a dystopian. In fact, I personally think that Winterkill can barely even be labelled as a dystopian. At least 75% of the book and world-building was about and revolved around the settlement’s religion. The Council (the people in charge of the settlement) gives Virtue Talks (it’s like going to church and listening to sermons), being “Wayward” (it’s another word for breaking the rules and being sinful) will get you punished, the characters talk about finding salvation, being gay is not okay and you need to hide it or you’re Wayward, when you are “Stained” (aka someone in your family line was Wayward and sentenced out to Crossroads to their death) people think you’re dirty and look down at you, committing adultery will sentence you to death in the Crossroads, the settlement’s God is called “Almighty,” when talking to one another in the settlement you call each other “Sister” and “Brother,” and I can just go on and on. It felt like I was reading the Bible while reading Winterkill, except Winterkill had different terms/vocabulary. Winterkill wasn’t preachy, but if I knew religion would play such a huge part in the book, I wouldn’t have read it at all since I’m not interested in books with such a huge focus on religion. I would go more in depth with this religion topic, but if I do, this review would be at least 1,000 words long and it’s long enough already.

Discovery is using the brains Almighty gave us to find ways to improve our lot – without risking everyone’s safety. (ARC 8)

Besides the religious aspect of the world-building, the rest of the world-building was confusing and lacks explanation. There isn’t any solid answers on how the settlement came to be the way it is, how they get the materials they need when the settlement locked themselves behind walls, how did the settlement build those said walls, and the “reveals” toward the end of the book made no sense along with many other unanswered questions. I don’t know if Kate A. Boorman will go more in depth about the world in the sequel (apparently this book will be in a trilogy), but all I know is that Winterkill is really lacking in world-building.

The plot wasn’t any better. It basically consists of Emmeline and the love triangle drama, Emmeline breaking the rules by leaving the settlement, seeing something, coming back to the settlement, Emmeline and the love triangle drama, breaking the rules by leaving the settlement, seeing something, coming back to the settlement, Emmeline and the love triangle drama, rinse and repeat, until it finally ended with a fight.

“Em,” he says. “I made a mistake. I thought I was protecting you.”
…
“And I want to protect you because…because I love you.” (ARC 220-221)

And yes, you read that right, Winterkill has a love triangle. For me, it is pretty obvious who Emmeline will end up with at the end, but that doesn’t change the fact that the love triangle is still there. An aspect in the romance that really annoyed me was the fact that the guy Emmeline really likes and always thinks about proclaims his love for her…yet they barely even know each other. You should have seen my shocked face when he told Emmeline, “I love you.” Like, whaa? When did this happen?

I also don’t even get why Winterkill is called Winterkill. Winter didn’t even arrive yet and the last chapter fast forward from the fall, which is the majority of the book, to the Thaw, aka the end of winter. So my question is, why on earth is this book titled “Winterkill?”

Also, according to the author’s website, this book will be a trilogy. Wait, what? Why? Winterkill ended perfectly as a standalone – why is it a trilogy? All I know is, no thank you. I won’t be reading the sequel after reading the mess that Winterkill was.

Overall, Winterkill is an extremely disappointing book. If I knew what kind of book it really was, I would have never requested it and read it the first place, even with that gorgeous cover.

onepointfive

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 9-05-14 · 35 Comments
Categories: 2014 book, book review Tagged: 1.5 star

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Speak Your Mind

  1. Benni @ Benni's Bookbiters says

    9-05-14 at 9:47 AM

    Thanks for the review. Guess I won’t be reading this one!
    Benni @ Benni’s Bookbiters recently posted…Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeerMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Jessi @ Novel Heartbeat says

    9-05-14 at 10:36 AM

    “it is a religious book disguised as a dystopian.” O__O Um, thank you for that warning…I won’t be touching this book! It’s a shame, it sounds so awesome *sad face*
    Jessi @ Novel Heartbeat recently posted…Life of a Blogger: FitnessMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Liv_TheAbsentHistorian says

    9-05-14 at 11:11 AM

    I definitely think I will be staying away from this book, it does not sound like my type of book at all. It sounds like it centres on quite a narrow-minded group of people and the love triangle almost certainly puts me off. Sorry this disappointed you so much!
    Liv_TheAbsentHistorian recently posted…Flashback Friday #1My Profile

    Reply
  4. Cali W. says

    9-05-14 at 12:33 PM

    Too bad the book was a disappointment. I really like the cover. A story about the woods sounds interesting. ;)

    Reply
  5. Kayla says

    9-05-14 at 1:54 PM

    Guess I’ll be skipping this one! It’s so odd that it’s not even set in the winter . . . what were they thinking, naming it that then?
    Kayla recently posted…Favorite Book Friday: Maddie from Caramel and SaltMy Profile

    Reply
  6. simonet says

    9-05-14 at 3:24 PM

    I love the first line of the book but I don’t think this is the book for me. I don’t like it when authors try to sneak and push religion down my throat. This seems like the kind of book I would be ranting to myself about how I didn’t like it. :) Thanks for the honest review.

    Reply
  7. Maria Medeiros says

    9-05-14 at 3:57 PM

    I hate it when a book is disappointing. Great honest review!
    Maria Medeiros recently posted…Eclair Goes to Stella’s- Book ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Sara Stevens says

    9-05-14 at 6:27 PM

    The summary sounds like it would be a good book. After reading your review, I am going to pass.

    Reply
  9. Connie says

    9-05-14 at 7:50 PM

    Aw, sorry to hear that this wasn’t what you expected. I got all excited when I read the synopsis at the top of the page, because the premise is pretty cool! Great honest review, anyway (: From what you described, I’m definitely not planning on giving this book a read.
    Connie recently posted…Book Review: What Happened to GoodbyeMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Molly Mortensen says

    9-05-14 at 9:14 PM

    Thank you for warning me against this book! You’ve saved me from reading it! I hate when religion is in the forefront it gets preachy way too easy. Sorry you had to suffer through this book. I hope your next choice is better.
    Molly Mortensen recently posted…My Father’s Favorite BooksMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Camille says

    9-05-14 at 9:59 PM

    Thank you for the review! I may not read this book at all

    Reply
  12. Beth W says

    9-05-14 at 11:36 PM

    Thank you so much for the forewarning! Preachy religious overtones, zero worldbuilding, misleading title, shallow love triangle….no thanks! It sounds like a crappier version of The Village. Ugh.
    Beth W recently posted…Book Review: The House of Velvet and GlassMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Victoria T says

    9-05-14 at 11:49 PM

    I have heard sooooo many things about this book! So many people that have gotten ARCs have been raving but I’m torn about whether or not I want to read it. Your review doesn’t make my decision any easier… Maybe when I am looking for a book to read and I have none I’ll pick it up. Thanks for the review! :)

    Reply
  14. Jaime Lester says

    9-05-14 at 11:51 PM

    I was so excited for this one when I first heard about it, but then I started seeing some reviews and my excitement waned. Now, after reading your review, I am pretty sure this is not a story that I would enjoy. Which is disappointing with such a fantastic cover!
    Jaime Lester recently posted…Kaleena reviews Autumn Rose (The Dark Heroine #2) by Abigail GibbsMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Sarah K. says

    9-06-14 at 8:32 AM

    I had no idea Winterkill was really religious. That feels like something that should have been mentioned in the synopsis. I hate being tricked by the synopsis.

    Reply
  16. Thais Pampado says

    9-06-14 at 1:43 PM

    Your review really saved me. I added Winterkill to my wishlist a few days ago, but now I’m going to risk it out asap. I HATE books that have too much religion, and hate it even more when they don’t warn you in the synopsis. Sad to see such a gorgeous cover wasted.
    Thais Pampado recently posted…O Aniversário de AnyaMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Mel@thedailyprophecy says

    9-06-14 at 4:08 PM

    This book also got me with it’s fairytale-like cover. What a waste :( I’m not waiting for a book that made you feel like reading a bible.
    Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 285. Amy Zhang – Falling into place.My Profile

    Reply
  18. Stacy Renee says

    9-06-14 at 6:12 PM

    Well this sounds super disappointing. If there’s one genre I don’t read, it’s religious themes. Thank you so much for sharing an honest review as I have seen this cover multiple times and was pretty drawn to it. The synopsis really isn’t much to go by at all and I would have been very disappointed if I had bothered with this.
    Stacy Renee recently posted…National Read A Book Day!!!My Profile

    Reply
  19. Amanda says

    9-06-14 at 8:18 PM

    It is a great cover, but when the title doesn’t match the book, it’s frustrating. I don’t know if I’d like a book with a lot of religious overtones either.

    Reply
  20. Alex U. says

    9-06-14 at 8:37 PM

    That cover is gorgeous! I’m not into religious/preachy books though so I won’t be reading this book. Thanks for the review!

    Reply
  21. Hillary R. says

    9-06-14 at 10:13 PM

    I’ve heard about Winterkill a few times here and there throughout the blogosphere, but this is the first time I’m truly reading a review about the book. I’m so glad the first time I read about it I know what is inside said book. And I’m pretty sure I’ll be skipping it too. I can tolerate a little religion, but when it’s 75% like you said, it’s just like, “No. No way am I reading this.” When religion basically takes over a book, it gets super boring. I don’t think I could handle it and I’m proud that you could get through even when it was torturous. Definitely good for you to skip the next two :)

    Reply
  22. raymond crisostomo says

    9-06-14 at 11:34 PM

    Well, Philippines is one of the most religious country but to be overwhelmed with such a book is so much i think, i might just read the bible lol :) nice cover though, it thought its something creepy
    raymond crisostomo recently posted…Zalora Instaprize 2My Profile

    Reply
  23. Kayla Arnold says

    9-07-14 at 1:43 PM

    I have nothing against religion, but I don’t like going into a book and finding out it spends the whole time talking with not so subtle religious innuendos, instead of the genre I was looking forward to. Though it’s a pity, this book had looked pretty cool!

    Reply
  24. Rachel says

    9-07-14 at 3:45 PM

    Thanks for the review! Taking this one off of my TBR pile.

    Reply
  25. Samantha r says

    9-08-14 at 12:07 PM

    Great review!
    I will not be picking this book up it just doesn’t sound like something I would like. If I hadn’t read this review I probably I would have picked up this book but now I know not to get it

    Reply
  26. Cassie @ Happy Book Lovers says

    9-11-14 at 2:40 PM

    I felt the exact same way when reading it. The plot was a mess and the love interests made me want to beat my head against the wall. And I’m glad I wasn’t the only one confused about the Winterkill title…
    Cassie @ Happy Book Lovers recently posted…Costumes & Cricket: Lola and the Boy Next DoorMy Profile

    Reply
  27. bn100 says

    9-12-14 at 6:02 PM

    If it’s part of a series/trilogy, the author should note it somewhere on the first book. At least it’s a s standalone

    Reply
  28. Willette Mitchell says

    9-16-14 at 5:02 PM

    Glad I never touched the book, Dystopian stories are a really big hit or miss for me!

    Reply
  29. Cassidie Jhones says

    9-18-14 at 1:14 PM

    I recently read a quite similar book- not much better luck here. Anyway, if it fits the time and place I have nothing to hold against religion. But if it’s intended to be sold in a disguise and is very forceful that’s a whole other question. When I’m buying a book for entertainment I want it to be free from proselytizing especially when it’s a YA, with a teenage targeted audience.
    Cassidie Jhones recently posted…Who View (1): S8 E4 – ListenMy Profile

    Reply
  30. Christina R. says

    9-28-14 at 7:34 AM

    I actually would like it because I enjoy reading about religion in books, especially when it’s the center of the conflict, and I don’t mind it when we don’t get an explanation for why a society developed exactly like it did.

    Don’t mind love triangles either!

    Lovely review, very detailed and with lots of explanation!

    Reply
  31. Diana Grace says

    9-28-14 at 7:39 AM

    Thank you for the honest review. I have this on my TBR and it’s too bad it wasn’t as good of a book for you now I’m quite hesitant to read this.
    Diana Grace recently posted…Cover Reveal and Giveaway: REBORN (Angel Creek 3) by Ada AdamsMy Profile

    Reply
  32. Alyssa says

    9-30-14 at 7:28 AM

    Hmm…a religious book disguised as dystopian? That’s quite intriguing. Before I saw yours, I saw another review of this book that made me interested enough to add this on my to-read shelf. But then having read your verdict on this book makes me a little doubtful if I should pick this up. :/

    Reply
  33. Maria Malaveci says

    9-30-14 at 11:38 AM

    I absolutely love this cover! Sounds interesting. Thanks so much for your honest review!

    Reply
  34. Olivia Harvard says

    9-30-14 at 7:40 PM

    It was unfortunate to read that this was a disappointment, considering the book has such a beautiful cover! The elements you described in your review don’t particularly interest me in a young adult series, especially when they’re so prominent, so I think I might stay away. Thank you so much for the review!

    Reply
  35. Ida Suyanto says

    10-01-14 at 1:16 AM

    Such a beautiful cover but your review stated otherway. I’m interested in this book for a while after reading the synopsis. The points you mentioned above looks like I’ll read other version of Bible. So I’ll skip this.

    Reply

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