Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

review by Maryom

Kate Winters' parents died when she was young and her uncle Artemis has brought her up in the northern town of Morvane, far away from the troubled capital city. Helping out in his bookshop, Kate believed herself to be safe. Then the Wardens arrive to conscript soldiers for the country's on-going war and Kate's world is turned up-side down. Accompanying the Wardens is a far more dangerous man, Silas Dane, hunting down the Skilled, people who are able to see through the veil dividing life and death. Nothing will stop him in his quest - and he believes Kate is one of these rare people.

Wintercraft is one of those books, already reviewed by the Mole, that I've been wanting to pick up and read for myself. Having recently won a giveaway of the third Wintercraft book, I decided it was time to stop thinking about it and get on with it!

 I'm always a little worried when approaching a book that I've been wanting to read for a long while - will it live up to my expectations or fall flat? I needn't have worried - Wintercraft is a brilliant read from the very first page! Yes, Kate is one of those heroines (or heroes) so often found in fantasy novels, with a special talent that someone evil wants to benefit from, but the world she inhabits is totally original and the storyline evolves in unexpected but believable ways. It's a rather dark fantasy and maybe not one for the easily spooked.

I just felt that occasionally Kate let herself be swept along and influenced by others a bit too much - hopefully as the series progresses, she'll become a more confident self-determining heroine.

Maryom's review - 5 stars

Publisher - Headline

Genre - fantasy, teen

Buy Wintercraft: Legacy from Amazon

Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

Wonderful Fantasy
reviewed by TheMole (Gerry)

I had heard a lot of comments about this book so felt I really wanted to review it. Having read it I was most impressed. The plotting is very different to many other fantasies and although it involves 'death' and the after life as a central theme it doesn't resemble, plot wise, Sabriel and books like that.

Kate is living with her uncle when the Wardens and a Collector come, ostensibly looking for conscripts to the army as they have been at war for 50 years with the Continent. The Collector, Silas Dane, is actually looking for a Skilled one and Kate is that person.

Kate's life changes so fantastically it is beyond belief for her and her friend, Edgar.

The plot is fast moving and never stops, making it difficult to put down, and while there is much death and violence it is hardly distressing to readers of all ages. The plot twists and turns before coming, unfortunately, to a predictable fairy tale ending. The reason I use the word 'unfortunately' is because I feel this may reduce it's appeal to some older readers. Also some of the language does seem to appeal to younger readers more than the older. This is a shame because the plot and most of the plot thread is really most excellent. Having said all that I did still enjoy the book and I am sure most readers, certainly the younger ones, will be enthralled and await the rest of the trilogy with as much enthusiasm as any other book.

I would rate this book as a four star (****) read for adults but five star (*****) for the younger readers.


Publisher: Headline

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror, Young Adult