A Chilling Disappointment That Left Me Cold

I picked up Kate A. Boorman's Winterkill hoping for a gripping, atmospheric dystopian thriller set in a harsh, isolated world. The premise of a community struggling to survive a brutal winter, with secrets and dangers lurking, sounded incredibly promising. Unfortunately, what I found was a book that utterly failed to deliver on its potential, leaving me frustrated and completely disengaged.

From the very beginning, the pacing was excruciatingly slow. What should have been a tense and urgent struggle for survival felt like an endless, monotonous trek through a barren landscape. The world-building, while attempting to create a bleak setting, was so underdeveloped that it felt more confusing than immersive. I struggled to understand the rules of this world, the history of its people, or the true nature of the threats they faced. It felt like a vague backdrop rather than a lived-in reality.

The characters were arguably the biggest letdown. They were incredibly flat, unlikable, and made baffling decisions that constantly pulled me out of the story. I couldn't connect with the protagonist, nor did I care about the fate of any of the supporting cast. Their motivations were unclear, their dialogue felt stilted, and their emotional reactions seemed completely inconsistent. The "secrets" and "dangers" hinted at were either painfully obvious or so poorly executed that they lacked any impact. The plot, if you could call it that, meandered without direction, and the few attempts at twists felt forced and unearned.

Ultimately, Winterkill was a truly disappointing read. It had a compelling concept, but the execution was so flawed that it became a chore to finish. It's a prime example of a book that promises a chilling mystery but delivers only a cold, lifeless narrative. I cannot recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging dystopian story or a thrilling mystery.

Despite being interested in the premise, once I started, I found myself struggling to engage with the characters and the world-building. I see that this is the first in a series, but I don't think I'll continue.

I did not finish this book. I just wasn't for me. I will not be rating or reviewing this title. Thank you for the opportunity to review.