For my tenth book of 2018, I picked a story from the pile of books I had collected at the OLA Super Conference. The Wolves of Winter is Tyrell Johnson’s debut novel and was one that intrigued me. The story centres around Lynn McBride, a young woman who has learned a lot since society collapsed in the face of nuclear war and disease seven years ago. Living in the snow-covered wilderness of the Yukon in Canada Lynn has learned to hunt, forage, and survive with her family. A stranger arrives near their dwelling, a fugitive named Jax, who brings with him dark secrets and enemies from the past. The arrival of Jax brings a change in the tempo of the life Lynn had been living with her family. The extract from the book I share with you gives a hint at the change:

“My knife had been bloody before. Countless times. Cutting into animal flesh, guts, and even small bones. I’d wipe it off in the snow, leaving trails of bright, bright red against the powdery white. But every time, it had been an animal’s blood. The kill had meant food. Meat. Nothing more. Sorry, elk; sorry, deer; sorry, moose, squirrel, crow, marten. A girl’s gotta eat. 

My knife had never been smeared with human blood before.” (p 102, 2018, Simon & Schuster Canada)

Lynn’s life changes. She learns much about her past, and the reasons for the changes in the world that she was born into. I enjoyed reading this apocalyptic tale. Even though the story is set in a possible future, the events described seem believable. My sympathies are definitely with Lynn and, as the story unfolds, even with Jax. I would recommend this read for those who enjoy reading apocalyptic tales that question the society we live in; and for those who are interested in another suggested scenario for the breakdown of society as we know it.

Do you enjoy reading apocalyptic stories?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This novel was the 10th in my 50 book pledge for 2018)