The Wolves of Winter

I very much enjoyed reading this novel. I am a sucker for post apocalyptic stories as long as they are written well and this one was definitely in that category. The thing that made this story stand out, for me, was the setting. Imagine trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world and then imagine trying to do it in the YUKON. The writing was good enough that I could almost feel the cold, the snow. I could picture a sky filled with stars and a frozen river.
I loved Lynn, the heroine of this novel. She is young, 23, and does some really juvenile things but she is actually a very brave woman. Jax is another great character and his story is given out in snippets. I liked the way Lynn would go back and give us glimpses of her former life, when things were normal and then not so normal. I really liked the way she adored her father, who had died and her attachment to her family.
There is a bit of mystery to this novel, enough to keep a reader interested and wanting to find out more. This book is a debut novel but you wouldn't know it. I came across no mistakes, or glaring plot holes and actually had a very easy time reading it. This is not always the case with debut novels.
I liked the ending and really hope that there is going to be a sequel. I would love to read more about Jax and Lynn and see what is next in their story because I have a feeling there could be more.

A mysterious frightening possibility of a future we all hope won't happen!. . A scientist father who takes his family out of Chicargo when a deathly flue hits. He dies, but his wife, son and daughter and uncle survive and live in several cabins isolated in the far north. The story is narrated by the daughter who enjoys the hunting and fishing skills her father has taught her, but often wishes for outside contact.. When a young injured man does show up, the uncle and mother are suspicious of him and keeps him under close watch, much to the chargrin of the daughter., who cannot understand the why. The author keeps the reader in suspense, a great read, I recommend the book.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book really draws you in and holds tight. It alludes to the events leading up to the end of the modern day world. Wars with nukes destroying major cities followed by a pandemic of a form of the Asian Bird flu. Many people believed that heading far north into the colder temperatures of the Artic would save them from the virus killing so many. This is where we are introduced to Lynn and her family, mother, brother, uncle and the son of the uncle's best friend. Lynn is now 23 but we are given little glimpses of her past life and events that took place from the age of 9 to the present. Her family's migration from Chicago to Alaska and then finally to the Yukon. Life here is hard. Not only is survival hard but the isolation of a young women who is related to all the males but one presents a problem for her future. That is until a lone young man, Jax, and a dog crosses paths with Lynn one day while she is out checking her traps. Only he doesn't come alone. There is a group chasing him for reasons unknown to Lynn. As Jax slowly reveals his past, a possible connection between his past and Lynn's late father becomes apparent and may explain why she survived the flu when so many didn't, including her father..
This book seems like the perfect set-up to a sequel that would continue the adventures of Lynn and Jax. I want to know more of Jax's past life and what the future holds for both him and Lynn.

I received an advance copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love all the apocalyptic stuff and I especially like when it's written well in a believable format. In this case, it was executed beautifully. I actually had a hard time putting this down because even though it all seemed very simple trying to survive when the human race was being wiped out, it actually got complicated pretty quickly. I was dying to find out what the whole deal was and it was slowly teased out through the story. The all too brief story. I want more. This needs to be a series because there are so many loose ends! That's actually why I gave it a 4.

I really enjoyed the characters, the story itself was great. For my sanity Tyrell Johnson, please continue the story in this book in a series!

This novel was addictive and really seemed to freshen up the genre of post-apocalypse worlds. It did not read like a debut, but was rather brilliantly put together and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lynn was a great main character and her voice added so much to a great plot.

One of the many things I liked was the slow addition of details to build up to a complete picture. This is very true about the setting and the context of how the world fell apart. Lynn’s tale is freshly post-apocalyptic, so she often reminisces about her old life and how her life changed. It was really refreshing to read a post-apocalyptic novel that wasn’t set generations later, so the main character still remembered the old world and thought about the things that she missed about it. This book honestly felt so relevant to the state of our world currently in terms of how things went badly and escalated so much that everything collapsed, which made the thrilling aspects even more riveting.

I’m from Canada, so as soon as I saw that this was set in the Yukon, that made me want to read this even more. The setting did not disappoint – cold, empty, and heartless. But also beautiful and relatively safe in this post-apocalyptic world… It was really easy to picture what Lynn was seeing, and I felt like I was there trudging through the snow alongside her.

Lynn was an amazing main character and narrator. She had such a developed personality and it was easy to instantly connect with her and root for her. Her character flaws are some of the things I liked most about her. She’s tough, brave, and cheeky. She misses chocolate – relatable! Her thoughts had me laughing out loud more than once.

Lynn’s family – Mary, Jeryl, Ken, and Ramsey – are all good supporting characters. They all have some development and defining traits, but they don’t take over Lynn’s spotlight, thus leaving the story to be focused on her. They added great dialogue to the mix and made for some neat dynamics as they all interacted with each other and the other characters that showed up throughout the novel.

Jax is the mystery man of the book. His backstory is murky and he doesn't reveal much. I kept thinking, “Please don't turn out to be bad!” and I can say that I really liked the direction that his character took. Anybody who takes care of a stray dog has to be okay, right? Side note: I instantly fell in love with Wolf. (Who wouldn't??)

All the other characters appeared as the plot needed to move forward and they too were well written. Conrad fulfilled his purpose, meaning he was a great character to strongly dislike. Super gross guy… None of these characters ever felt forced or unreal, so that was a real bonus.

Right from the beginning, there was backstory and context woven in with the present, while also providing further details about the present. This was all really well done – I was able to ease into the story while getting to know Lynn without having to process too much information or keep up with an insanely paced plot. There were multiple times where my heart was really pumping from all the action and excitement.

The writing style was very griping and kept me racing through the chapters, which flowed seamlessly. I am a sucker for cliffhangers at the ends of chapters, so I had some late nights while reading this because I just couldn't stop. A lot of the book, especially the first bit, is written in short bursts. The time often alters between past and present, providing lovely glimpses into Lynn’s life while she grew up in Alaska, as well as showing how the world fell apart. The writing is quite varied – there is a wonderful amount of profanity (truly loved it!), some sections of Lynn’s inner thoughts, times without dialogue to just absorb everything that was happening around Lynn, and many passages that were absolutely beautiful.

Quotes I loved:
“Snow is a fickle bastard.”
“Snow is beautiful, snow is calming, snow is a cold bitch.”
(The fact that it is the beginning of winter here in Canada right now made me laugh at these lines even more – the cold that comes with snow is rough. But it’s also so pretty!)
“No fucking way.” (I shared these exact same thoughts with Lynn at the end, and I may have laughed and clapped at the event that comes with this line. It made me so happy!)

I look forward to reading more by Tyrell Johnson in the future!

Goodreads Synopsis:
A captivating tale of humanity pushed beyond its breaking point, of family and bonds of love forged when everything is lost, and of a heroic young woman who crosses a frozen landscape to find her destiny. This debut novel is written in a post-apocalyptic tradition that spans The Hunger Games and Station Eleven but blazes its own distinctive path.

Forget the old days. Forget summer. Forget warmth. Forget anything that doesn’t help you survive in the endless white wilderness beyond the edges of a fallen world.

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

Shadows of the world before have found her tiny community—most prominently in the enigmatic figure of Jax, who brings with him dark secrets of the past and sets in motion a chain of events that will call Lynn to a role she never imagined.

Simultaneously a heartbreakingly sympathetic portrait of a young woman searching for the answer to who she is meant to be and a frightening vision of a merciless new world in which desperation rules, The Wolves of Winter is enveloping, propulsive, and poignant.

My Review:
I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story begins with the main character, twenty three year old Gwendolynn (Lynn) first having her food stolen out of her trap by her closest neighbour, Conrad, and when she tries to get it back from him, they punch each other in the face and then he pins her down and molests her. If that doesn't set the tone for the rest of the book, I don't know what does. What a way to begin.

The world has gone quiet, or so it seems from their secluded three house village, after quite a lot of things happened. A war started, the bombs hit, and the tv went out. The planes stopped flying, the fires started. A flu took out most of what was left of the human population after that. That was eleven years ago. Lynn and her family first moved to Alaska, and then to the Yukon to stay alive. They haven't seen much life lately, and Lynn often wonders if the people she has immediately around her are the only ones left. This book is really interesting and easy to read right from the start. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down.

I don't know what it is about books like this but when the characters are just well adjusted and casually living in an apocalypse, it's just so relaxing to read about. The world they live in is just so easy to imagine and it's really enjoyable to read. A stranger wanders in one day, and the camp is on edge. Slowly they start seeing more and more people. They start to think, maybe more people survived than they thought. But what some people intentions are for them are worse than anyone could have expected, except for maybe Jax, the newcomer. What could possibly go wrong when everything has already gone so wrong?

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book It was casual and yet still really exciting at times. I'm glad I read it. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.

Here's a link to the book on amazon, and another to the authors twitter.

https://www.amazon.ca/Wolves-Winter-Tyrell-Johnson-ebook/dp/B01M4QEH2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511119699&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wolves+of+winter

https://twitter.com/tjohnso14

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley of The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson in exchange for an honest review. Let me start by saying that post-apocalyptic fiction has never been one of my favorite genres. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is well-written in such a way that one can almost feel the cold. This is the story of a world that has all but been annihilated by wars and disease. The few remaining people have migrated to the Yukon and must use survival skills and endurance to stay alive in this rugged environment. Lynn McBride finds herself in the North with her mother and brother and a few other men. Days are spent hunting, gathering wood and water and just trying to keep fed and warm and out of sight till the next day and so on. They are managing to eke out an existence until the day that they are approached by a group of strangers on horseback who want to interfere with their meager way of life. Lynn and her companions find themselves in a fight for their lives and their way of life. The pace of the book effectively creates tension and suspense and keeps the reader totally committed. This is a first novel for Tyrell Johnson and hopefully there will be many more to come. Highly recommended.

A vivid depiction of a Post-apocalyptic world. Engaging, believable and thrilling.... strong ending. Could have done without so much profanity.

Most of Earth's population is wiped out. Only a few survive in the North.

I really liked this book and hardly could put it down. It was an exciting and suspenseful read.
Most of all, I enjoyed the language, which is really Prose Poetry, powerful and to the point, and lyrical. I could see the river and the snow, almost feel the cold.
The plot is logical. The possibility of a biological war and it's outcome is absolutely believable.

The main character (who is also the first-person narrator), Lynn, is a strong and resiliant young woman whom I liked very much.

The author has drawn a bleak glimpse into an post-apocalyptic world. But there is hope in the end.

When I read the description I was expecting the usual trope-riddled YA dystopia that we've become used to with the likes of The Hunger Games, Divergent and their ilk. This is not that. And I couldn't be more pleased by that. I enjoy those YA series (well I have issues with the endings of both of the aforementioned series but that's another matter entirely), but I really like that Wolves of Winter was different. I've never read another dystopian novel quite like this one, and I have read my fair share of dystopian novels. In my experience, it's rare to find a non-romantic, female protagonist in the 18-35 age range, and Lynn, at 24 falls squarely in that range. As a 31-year-old, I find that really relatable and pleasing. Sure there was a small bit of romance but it was incidental to the point of being inconsequential, which is another refreshing change from the usual love triangle. This is set right after the collapse of civilization - and it's such a realistic and plausible collapse that you can totally see something like Johnson's scenario actually happening - which makes it somewhat terrifying in my opinion. I also really love that it's set in Canada, but you know, personal bias there.

So if you're looking for dystopian fiction without some of the usual tropes (don't get me wrong, it still has LOTS of the tropes), or you're interested in a new adult character instead of a young adult, or even if you just want to read more Canadian genre fiction (the author lives in BC) then I would say you should consider checking this book out. It was a really fun read and I can't wait to get a physical copy when it comes out.

I'm undecided on whether or not I hope it becomes a series. It ended openly enough to have at least one sequel, and it definitely has series potential. But I also think it just ended really nicely to act as a stand-alone leaving the reader hopeful that everything will work out for Lynn, Jax and the rest of the world.

This is a wonderful read that has the best of a lot of genres. A Science Fiction story set in the not too distant future where nuclear war and a pandemic have changed our world the story include wilderness adventure, a thriller and a touch of romance. I loved the characters and enjoyed that the basic premise was not beyond the realm of possibility. It is a perfect example of great storytelling. I will be recommending this book to my customers.

I quite enjoyed this book...I would rate it a solid 4 stars. The characters were believable in their struggle to survive against such odds – to their suspicion of strangers, who might bring the deadly Asian Flu into their camp ...to dealing with the Immunity, a society who has proven not to be trusted and has their own agenda! I liked the back story about Lynn and her family, and through that, it made you aware how the war got started in the first place ... how the world reacted to such threats and retaliated to the point of extinction. How could you not look at today’s political climate and not make comparisons! It was a bit chilling! But through out all that, there was hope, strength and determination to survive at all odds! Although this is a stand alone book, I do hope the author considers continuing the story of Lynn and Jax.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair review

There is a lot to like in the debut novel “The Wolves of Winter” by Tyrell Johnson. The main character Lynn McBride was the perfect person to narrate this story. Readers may think that this character has been done before – a girl, providing for her family, good with a bow and a dead father – but that is far from the case. She has her own distinct voice and she is a believable 23 year old who is trying to accept her life isolated in the wilderness of the Yukon while not really understanding any of the reasons that brought her family to live there in the first place. The story definitely benefits from this strong and realistic character.

Johnson set this story in a post-apocalyptic world that’s a little different than what we’ve seen lately in this genre. There is no clear dictatorship or strong central government in North America calling all the shots, and the cause of the world’s downfall was a mixture of all-out war between superpowers and a flu that killed much of the population. Lynn and her family are living in a remote valley in the Yukon, surviving by hunting game and eating potatoes and carrots. Readers slowly learn more about what brought the family to the Yukon and why they are living in such isolation, and that slow revelation keeps you engaged trying to put all of the pieces of their story together.

This book is well paced and there is a great mix of action scenes and quiet moments with our main character. It did take me a few chapters to really get into this book and I think that is mostly because Johnson has a direct way of writing and it took a little while for me to fall into his rhythm. But once I spent some time with Lynn McBride, I knew I needed to keep reading to find out where this story would take her.

I’m not sure if there is a sequel planned, and the story doesn’t necessarily need one. Overall ”The Wolves of Winter” comes to a relatively satisfying conclusion, but there are a few questions that I would like to see answered so if Johnson decides to continue this story I will definitely be picking up that book.

Posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2158634882?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I was beyond excited to receive an ARC of this book. I was held captive by this post-apocalyptic story about the last remaining people who are living off the land after the world collapses under war and disease. There are no news updates, no communication and no one has any idea about how many have survived. Reading this in today felt almost too real, relevant and believable. This novel has been compared to Hunger Games & Station Eleven but I also thought of Joe Hill’s The Fireman while I was reading – as humanity is struggling to adapt to survive they also face conflict & brutality.

The novel focuses on a strong female lead – Lynn. As she tries to find her place in this crazy, devastated world. What I really enjoyed was the story takes place many years after the devastation. Lynn has grown into an adult in this post-apocalyptic world. I enjoyed the characters – especially Lynn and Wolf. The Wolves of Winter is a quick, enjoyable read.

In the end, I was left with this beautiful reminder:
“It’s funny how little we need to get by. Snow, moose, potatoes, carrots and the company of a few good people. It’s amazing how little we need to survive. And not just survive, but live.”

THANK YOU to Simon & Schuster Canada, NetGalley & Tyrell Johnson for an electronic ARC of this novel.

Amazing novel I could not put it down THE WOLVES OF WINTER has everything. Family dynamics, secrets kept, suspense and even a little romance.

The blurb compared this to Station Eleven, but it's more genre-like than that. There is a bit of a literary feel to it, but it is more of a post-apocalyptic adventure (with flashbacks). I enjoyed it, it mentions Vancouver and is set in the Yukon but doesn't have a real feeling of place about it to me -- just a winter wilderness.

4.5 stars. I loved this book! It has enough action to keep me interested and just enough detail about the world end to keep it intriguing. I can't wait for the next one!

A post-apocalyptic novel featuring a strong female character who shoots with a bow and fights to survive in the wilderness. No, this isn't the Hunger Games, but actually a much more believable scenario of what could happen when politics goes terribly wrong. This is especially resonant with the current state of world politics.
After one country decides to drop bombs on another, a chain reaction soon has the entire world enmeshed in nuclear war. The United States decides to wage biological war on Asia, unleashing a deadly virus. This backfires bigtime (go figure) and humanity is decimated. Survivors flee to uninhabited wilderness areas in the far North where the virus seems less rampant.
Lynn McBride is a young woman living in the Yukon with a few of her surviving family members. When a strange, gifted man and his dog arrives on the scene, Lynn begins to discover more about her past, and why she is so important to a government group that is searching for her.
A great, very readable debut, hopefully, there will be more installments of this story in the future.

This book kept my attention throughout. The characters are real and the story-line felt a touch too realistic as well. Lynn is a 23 year old woman living in the Yukon wilderness with her family and a few others. The weather and search for food is a constant challenge resulting in Lynn having wilderness skills that will help her survive. The back story of how they ended up in this place is openly shared from the beginning, involving war and a flu epidemic. When a stranger is invited into their settlement it ultimately leads to the arrival of others resulting in conflict, a fight for survival, death, and government conspiracies.. The tension between the current happenings and Lynns' memories of her father come to a conclusion that is satisfying yet leaves the potential for a sequel. The book is marketed as a mashup between 'Stations Eleven' and 'The Hunger Games' yet it felt unique and fresh on its own. It has an adult appeal but would also work for YA readers as the lead character at times 'feels' younger due to her isolated life. . I appreciated that the female lead was portrayed intelligently and competently, often books paint young women as damsels requiring saving which is frustrating in today's world.

An exciting post-apocalyptic story about survivors living back to nature after the society collapses under nuclear war and disease. Reminiscent of Station Eleven or The Passage, the story focuses on the adaptation that's necessary for humanity to continue to survive, along with the conflict that's inevitable in a devastated world. This was an enjoyable and easy read, meant for quick enjoyment and doesn't go too deep.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada, the author and NetGalley for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“The Wolves of Winter” by Tyrell Johnson is a post-apocalyptic novel, where a young woman has the capacity to save the world. But don’t base whether you read it or not on that statement alone. Comparisons have been made to “Hunger Games” (Suzanne Collins) and this is accurate, however “Wolves” is an entirely novel, creative enterprise worth its own individual praise.
In “Winter”, Gwendolynn McBride and her family are living in a world that has been shattered by disease. After losing her scientist father to “the flu”, she moves with her brother, mother and uncle to the Yukon, hoping the cold will provide some protection from the airborne virus. Virtually isolated, Lynn and her family have found a way to survive. When a stranger comes to their camp and the McBride’s take a chance and shelter him, their life changes quickly. An agency named “Immunity” is on the hunt for their stranger (Jax) and soon Lynn is a target. Lynn begins to question- what does her mother know? What was her father studying? Why does Immunity know who she is and why is she in danger?
This story is not completely innovative- a strong, female protagonist with special skills/powers that could save the world alongside a rough, isolated young man who turns out to be different than expected, and a world torn apart by outside forces. There are some similarities to both “Divergent” (Veronica Roth), and “The Hunger Games”, as well as any of the other immeasurable YA-pocalypse stories out there. However, I can say, I am a huge fan of this genre and really enjoyed “Wolves of Winter”.
Lynn is a great character, with just the right amount of spunk and sass without being snotty or irritating. The cold, white, winter landscape of the Yukon sets the stage for the feelings of isolation that run through the McBride “household”. The story is also told in small chapters, which makes reading this novel a breeze.
Obviously, this novel will have a sequel (if not more), so based on that assumption, I will not evaluate the ending. Although no sequel was directly mentioned, it would be against the rules of this genre to not provide at least two more novels and make it into a series (and then eventually a movie, or perhaps a TV series, or maybe both). I am however, excited to follow Lynn’s journey through the cold Canadian north and see if she succeeds in her quest and if she continues her (predictable) relationship with Jax (but of course it’s predictable, considering he’s the only male she has come in contact with that isn’t her family or directly trying to kill her). This book surprised me and I was impressed tenfold. Please continue this series, oh Great Book Gods!

Not sure if this is YA or not but whatever genre you place it in, The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson is just a rip-roaring fun yarn.

I absolutely loved the setup and backstory for this one. A flu pandemic that swept the globe amidst war and brought about a snowy apocalypse seems almost like it could be ripped from the headlines these days. The author did a fantastic job establishing an oppressive theme throughout and painted frigid pictures with words. Fantastic!

The characters were also well drawn and realistic. As a heroine, Lynn is every bit as intriguing as Katniss Everdeen. I was kept on the edge of my seat turning the pages as her story came to fruition. The hint of romance at the end of the world between her and Jax was also done in understated way so as not to interfere with the plot.

The only potential drawback is the foray into “superhuman” territory that may throw some readers out of their comfort zone. As a comic junkie though, it was right up my alley!

5 stars.

The Wolves of Winter is a dystopian story that is a bit different than what I have been reading lately but I admit that I did enjoy this book very much.

This book is one of the few dystopian books that I just couldn't put down because I was sucked into the story.

This book is one I know I will be reading again in the future and I am hoping there will be a sequel.

I give this book 4 out of 5.

I love any dystopian story. But this one felt plausible to me. Maybe because it’s been -20C for more than a week here, the snow crunching beneath my boots. I loved every part of this book. The characters are vibrant, real, lovable.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.

4.5 stars - this was an easy and very enjoyable, entertaining read. This book has a fresh and interesting take on a post-apocalyptic world, with characters I felt connected to and a plot that kept me reading until the end. I really hope we get a sequel!

​I’m always on the lookout for a new and exciting book in the post-apocalyptic genre. The Wolves of Winter jumped out at me; the cover screamed Nordic noir, another favorite genre, while the synopsis is all post-apocalyptic. I was ready to saddle up and head north with Tyrell Johnson.

This is a genre that is fraught with challenges. With all of the books available right now, the scenario needs to be fresh, unique and a wee bit possible. On top of that, should the author go with a strong, young female protagonist, she has to hold her own; the last thing I want to read about is another Katniss Everdeen wannabe.

So, how did Johnson do?

The world has been ravaged by war and a man-made plague (disease). Yes, we have seen this before. I think that Johnson won me over with the build-up to his apocalypse. The possibility of it seems too close for comfort. I thought that this scenario could actually happen.

The next thing that Johnson did that worked for me was the setting. It made sense, when the shit hits the fan – head for the hills. The McBride family did exactly as one should, they isolated themselves. Johnson illuminated the daily life of a family striving to get by and the realities of their existence.

No great story is complete without great characters. While the bow-wielding Lynn McBride did seem vaguely familiar, she holds her own within the genre. Jax, I really couldn’t connect with, however, his faithful companion, Wolf, was a favorite of mine. Among the supporting cast, Lynn’s uncle, Jeryl, stole the show and kept me connected to the story.

The Wolves of Winter is a great first outing for Tyrell Johnson. I had a couple of minor issues (don’t eat snow to hydrate!), but all in all I connected with the characters and felt involved in the story. If Lynn and Jax have any more adventures, I would like to tag along.

*4 Stars

Here's an exciting, action-packed dystopian, set in the Canadian Yukon and starring a brave young heroine, Gwendolynn McBride. Her family fled Eagle, Alaska to this remote location after civilization was destroyed by nuclear war and a weaponized flu.

Survival is a challenge, but there's a lot more to this story, which I very much hope is the first in a series.

I couldn't put this book down. Absolutely brilliant for an emerging author! Already a fan of the off grid lifestyle, especially north of 48, I was instantly transported to the land of dark and snow through the eyes of these all too relatable characters. I really enjoy that although we are in the mind or a YA female, her thoughts are unisex in nature, with the central focus being on survival. Fast paced, keeps you questioning what will they have to endure next. Looking forward to a few sequels!

AS THE OLD WORLD DIES,

It's been over seven years since 23-year-old Gwendalynn "Lynn" has used electricity, eaten a Fruit Roll-Up, worn a bra—yup, those good ol' days are lonnnng gone. Everything is different now that the world is at war with each other. And just when you thought things couldn't get any worse... well, they do. A massive epidemic known as the Asian Flu is claiming lives faster than the blink of an eye.

Things weren't always this chaotic though. This mess happened gradually. As the days went by, less and less kids started showing up at Lynn's school. Then one day, the teachers didn't show up at all. Food became more scarce. Then it became time. Time to say goodbye to the life she knew in Chicago. Her and her family needed get away from the hell that had broken loose before it devoured them, too.

After traveling from city-to-city, Lynn and her family finally managed to settle in the Yukon, a freeze-your-balls-off territory in northwest Canada. Only, not everyone survived the shitty journey.

"And nothing happened more beautifully than death," Walt Whitman says.
Fucking liar.

WE ALL MUST CHOOSE TO BECOME PREDATORS.

Jax isn't quite sure how old he is—27 maybe 28? Here's the thing, you lose track of time when you don't have a watch or a calendar to follow, when the world has gone to shit, no friends to chat with. It's just you and your dog. There is, however, one thing Jax is certain about: do not get caught by the group known as Immunity.

Jax has been taken advantage of long enough, and now he is on the run. With no sense of purpose except to get away as far as he can from the savage people who want to use him as a weapon. Jax is about to cross paths with Lynn and unknowingly help her uncover a secret she's been kept in the dark about for far too long. But as for Lynn, well, she isn't the only one with a secret.

OR BECOME PREY.

Rated PG-13: This book deals with two scenes of sexual assault, frequents the use of profanity and references sex.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. Quotes are subject to change upon publication.

PS. I will be purchasing this book with my own money when it comes out on January 2, 2018. Yes, that's how much I freaking loved it. Watch out for this up-and-coming author because they are on 🔥!!

I really like reading books set in Canada and that was a big draw for this post-apocalyptic story set in the Yukon. The story was fantastic and the main characters were easy to like. There is just enough pre-story to fill in any gaps but not too much to crowd out the actual story. For a debut novel I thought this book was amazing.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Tyrell Johnson's characterization of a young adult female living in the Yukon in a post-apocalyptic world was realistic and inspiring at the same time. If you liked Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games, you'll appreciate Gwendolynn McBride. She's a survivor and capable of holding her own, even in the northern wilderness of Canada in winter. When a mysterious stranger arrives at her family's cabin, she must decide whether to trust him and learns there is more to him than meets the eye. Lynn eventually discovers the truth about herself and the company she is forced to keep and must decide whether to fight or surrender to people who would harm her or her loved ones. She may even hold the key to saving the world.

Forget what you know about dystopians and just plunge into this terrifying Yukon adventure blind. I didn't know what to expect which is why I think I enjoyed this as much as I did. Told in first person of twenty-three year old Lynn McBride, she paints us a picture of how brutal living in this new world is from the start. The world building is incredibly vivid and is a fine balance between idyllic nature and desperate survival.

Lynn is a strong and kickass heroine who doesn't let her gender confine her in this new world. In the beginning, we know her as this fierce woman who knows how to hunt and track with methodical precision. It's in her past memories of her former life and her deceased Father, that we see a glimpse of a vulnerable girl who took 'normal' for granted. In the vast and cold landscape, winter seems eternal and Lynn's life seems secluded within her small community. Until Jax, a stranger with a dark past, shows up to shatter the otherwise quiet life she's known.

Both characters and the setting work hand in hand to push the story along. As the book progresses, I wondered where exactly the plot was heading but Johnson is brilliant in building momentum. I won't get into the details, but from the moment Jax appears, each chapter is packed with action, intrigue and drama. I found myself not being to stop reading, and wanting to know more. It's a read that goes by quickly and I relished every moment of it.

This is a dystopian completely different than any other I have read so far. My before expectations were exceeded in this read.

If I had to find a fault to this book it would be that there wasn't more! I am so hoping that there's a sequel because I would absolutely love to continue reading this. I'll definitely be picking up a copy for my own bookshelf in the new year.