Summary – Ten years ago Kate Winters’ parents were taken by the High Council’s wardens to help with the country’s war effort.
Now the wardens are back…and prisoners, including Kate’s uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy. Silas Dane – the High Council’s most feared man – recognises Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see through the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council’s experiments into the veil, and he’s convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace.
The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft – a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume. But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plans for Kate and Wintercraft…
Review – Wow… Wow… Wow… This is an awesome book. I cannot believe this is a debut novel, so well written and so well constructed. I loved everything about it and couldn’t put it down. It is like nothing else out there, there are no witches, no vampires or werewolves. Yet it still has a supernatural theme to it.
I was unsure of Kate at first and wish she had a bit more back bone, not that she was a push over but she was powerful. She is young and unsure of herself, which makes her loveable.
Kate and Edgar, have a friendship that shows no boundries. They will do anything to help save the other, even if it means losing their own lives.
The book was fast paced, but didn’t overload you with too many facts but still gave you enough to create the world around you. You feel like you are actually there, her use of imagery is oustanding for a debut novel.
Jenna managed to get her love for animals in there with a crow being a very important and heart-warming character.
I loved Silas and his crow, please can they have their own book?
Everyone should read this book. No matter what genre you are into, this book has something that will appeal to you.
Jenna is such a sweet and lovely lady. Jenna Burtenshaw is twenty eight and has been writing regularly since she was nine years old. Starting with short stories and poems, she wrote for herself and the people around her and fell in love with the process of storytelling.
She began writing Wintercraft – her first novel – in 2006 and now writes full time. In her spare time she enjoys walking her three dogs, playing the flute and getting lost in a good book.
Check out her website and follow her on twitter @jennaburtenshaw
This post is protected under copyright. SusankMann 2009 – 2014
Mary (The Sweet Book says
11th May 2010 at 10:09 pmCheck the interview tomorrow! There will be more books in the series! I can't wait. I thought it was such a unique story, like nothing that is out there right now.
MissBohemia says
12th May 2010 at 5:35 pmI really enjoyed reading your review. I love the title of the book and after reading the summary and your review I'm adding it to my wishlist :-)My thirst for vampire books knows no bounds, but I also enjoy other supernatural themes especially when the worlds of the living and dead crossover!
Dot says
13th May 2010 at 8:07 amYou had the same reaction to this book as I did! I loved Silas!
elainescott77 says
14th May 2010 at 7:44 amI am so ordering this book, looks amazing cant wait to read it 🙂 x
SusanKMann says
14th May 2010 at 8:50 amIt is a really good book. You will enjoy it Elaine and Miss Bohemia.Thanks Dot and Mary. x
Michelle says
14th May 2010 at 2:58 pmSounds like an amazing book!
Falcata Times says
14th May 2010 at 7:23 pmFunnilly enough I have this on my TBR pile, I'll move it up immediately from your recommendation Suzim.Gareth
Julie says
14th May 2010 at 7:47 pmSounds like this one really hit the sweet spot for you. I love it when books do that 🙂 I'll try to check it out next time I'm at the bookstore.
Danielle La Paglia says
15th May 2010 at 12:45 amSounds like a good read. Thanks Susan!