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Damienverse #3
The Final Winter
Critically acclaimed début novel of bestselling author, Iain Rob Wright.
What would you do if it started snowing in every country in the world? Would you panic? For a ragtag group of strangers gathered at a dilapidated English pub, the best solution is a pint of beer with a hearty shot of denial. The truth is too strange to admit; but, one by one, they will be forced to accept reality - that something sinister is lurking outside in the snow. Something no one could imagine.
Amongst those at the pub is Harry Jobson, the local drunk. Nobody would ever look to him during a time of crisis, but as things deteriorate he is forced to get a grip on his past and be the man he was always meant to be. It will be up to Harry to find answers to questions like: who just threw a body through the window with the word SINNER carved into its chest?
Not everyone is going to make it through the night - and those who do will wish they hadn't.
Special edition bonus content - seven additional short stories set during the events of The Final Winter, plus one additional stand-alone tale: The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins.
What would you do if it started snowing in every country in the world? Would you panic? For a ragtag group of strangers gathered at a dilapidated English pub, the best solution is a pint of beer with a hearty shot of denial. The truth is too strange to admit; but, one by one, they will be forced to accept reality - that something sinister is lurking outside in the snow. Something no one could imagine.
Amongst those at the pub is Harry Jobson, the local drunk. Nobody would ever look to him during a time of crisis, but as things deteriorate he is forced to get a grip on his past and be the man he was always meant to be. It will be up to Harry to find answers to questions like: who just threw a body through the window with the word SINNER carved into its chest?
Not everyone is going to make it through the night - and those who do will wish they hadn't.
Special edition bonus content - seven additional short stories set during the events of The Final Winter, plus one additional stand-alone tale: The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2011
About the author
Iain Rob Wright
89 books1,562 followersOne of Horror's most respected authors, Iain Rob Wright is the writer of more than forty books, many of them bestsellers. A previous Kindle All-Star and a mainstay in the horror charts, he is a prolific producer of unique and original stories. From his apocalyptic saga The Gates to his claustrophobic revenge thriller ASBO, Iain writes across a broad spectrum of sub genres, creating both beloved series and standalone titles.
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 499 reviews
April 14, 2018
This one was frustrating. It was a really cool premise – a group of people taking shelter in a British pub from a blizzard that was sweeping the world. And something ominous lurked outside in the snow. Then 2/3’s of the way in the “reveal” came, and for me it just fell off a cliff. The mystery of what was outside was a lot more intriguing than the reveal itself.
April 9, 2018
This is a 4.5 star read.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 GR wiped my stunning original review so this will have to do ......
Do yourself a favour and read this book!!
- It's epic
- It's f*%#ing scary
- The author is awesome 💗
- Lots of secrets, twists, turns and freaky stuff
- Characters to loathe and love and Gasp! 😱 over
- It's EPIC! (I've said that twice but it's epic²)
(Apologies to the author)
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 GR wiped my stunning original review so this will have to do ......
Do yourself a favour and read this book!!
- It's epic
- It's f*%#ing scary
- The author is awesome 💗
- Lots of secrets, twists, turns and freaky stuff
- Characters to loathe and love and Gasp! 😱 over
- It's EPIC! (I've said that twice but it's epic²)
(Apologies to the author)
July 2, 2019
I loved this book! It was a very creepy and an enticing horror story for me. I highly recommend if a reader enjoys a different and dark supernatural story that takes place in the midst of a freezing blizzard!!
July 27, 2012
Had great potential at the start, but couldn’t deliver.
This started out great and I'd settled myself down for a fast, all-in-one-sitting, read. Sufficient gore and tense situations that kept me second guessing who the real good guys/bad guys were. Reminded me a lot of Stephen King’s The Mist to be honest. But then we hit about the three-quarters mark and I literally went WTH happened? The story slipped into silly mode and I found myself totally turned off. I don’t know, maybe I expected too much from an apocalyptic horror story, but I felt this could have been so much more than what it turned out to be. Comedy is not what I search for when choosing a “horror” story, but comedy is what it morphed into. It’s like the author did this bang-up job of setting up this dark tale and then totally dropped the ball. I might try a second novel by Iain Rob Wright just because I liked the set up of the first half in The Final Winter, but right now it’s a mighty big IF. The talent is there to produce a good horror. He certainly caught my attention at the start. But I think this one got pushed through while still in need of a lot more work in the developmental, editing, part of the writing process. Had potential, but didn’t deliver. I should probably have given it one star, but decided to go with two only because of the good beginning. For the author, because I feel you have a lot of talent as a writer-- I’d pull this one and rework it before anymore damage is done. For potential readers—-probably not going to be the story you hoped for when glancing through the blurb and those beginning pages.
This started out great and I'd settled myself down for a fast, all-in-one-sitting, read. Sufficient gore and tense situations that kept me second guessing who the real good guys/bad guys were. Reminded me a lot of Stephen King’s The Mist to be honest. But then we hit about the three-quarters mark and I literally went WTH happened? The story slipped into silly mode and I found myself totally turned off. I don’t know, maybe I expected too much from an apocalyptic horror story, but I felt this could have been so much more than what it turned out to be. Comedy is not what I search for when choosing a “horror” story, but comedy is what it morphed into. It’s like the author did this bang-up job of setting up this dark tale and then totally dropped the ball. I might try a second novel by Iain Rob Wright just because I liked the set up of the first half in The Final Winter, but right now it’s a mighty big IF. The talent is there to produce a good horror. He certainly caught my attention at the start. But I think this one got pushed through while still in need of a lot more work in the developmental, editing, part of the writing process. Had potential, but didn’t deliver. I should probably have given it one star, but decided to go with two only because of the good beginning. For the author, because I feel you have a lot of talent as a writer-- I’d pull this one and rework it before anymore damage is done. For potential readers—-probably not going to be the story you hoped for when glancing through the blurb and those beginning pages.
January 28, 2015
Great read!! Our setting for this tale is a warm, inviting English pub on a cold, dark, snowy winter evening. The snow came out of nowhere, baffling weatherman the world over. This storm encompasses the world and it doesn't seem there is an end in sight.
It isn't often that a book makes me feel like I am watching a horror movie. Final Winter has just that effect, the horror seeps off of the page. Well done, Iain Rob Wright!!
I don't want to give anything away so I will stop here but if you are looking for a great, atmospheric read, you have come to the right place.
You can't go wrong with a book by Iain Rob Wright.
A genuine 5 star read!!
It isn't often that a book makes me feel like I am watching a horror movie. Final Winter has just that effect, the horror seeps off of the page. Well done, Iain Rob Wright!!
I don't want to give anything away so I will stop here but if you are looking for a great, atmospheric read, you have come to the right place.
You can't go wrong with a book by Iain Rob Wright.
A genuine 5 star read!!
June 30, 2015
This book was a nearly perfect apocalyptic tale where the end comes in the form of a worldwide snowstorm.
If the fact that it is snowing on every country in the world isn't freaky enough for you, wait until you catch a glimpse of what else the storm has conjured.
I really liked this book. Once Wright introduced all of the players, I didn't want to stop reading until I knew all of their fates. So, I read it in two sittings.
Definitely going to check out some more of the author's work.
If the fact that it is snowing on every country in the world isn't freaky enough for you, wait until you catch a glimpse of what else the storm has conjured.
I really liked this book. Once Wright introduced all of the players, I didn't want to stop reading until I knew all of their fates. So, I read it in two sittings.
Definitely going to check out some more of the author's work.
July 19, 2011
After an exceptionally hard winter in the UK, and my husband's oft stated desire to be snowed in in a pub, this book sounded like a good read for me. Something very strange is going on. News channels are reporting that it is snowing in every country of the world. That night in old English pub The Trumpet a small group of locals gather, debating the cause of this odd occurrence. But as the night goes on things get stranger and the group grows as other take refuge from both the snow storm and sinister characters outside. As events unfold it appears someone in their group may be the cause of it all.
The book is described as an apocalyptic horror, and while it starts in a way that provokes thoughts about climate change and doesn't appear to be setting up a horror story, as the evening goes on members of the group witness terrible things. Although some of the action takes place outside and in shops nearby most of the evening is covered from within the pub, in close quarters which feels quite claustrophobic and adds to the atmosphere. The tone starts as quite conversational and there are moments of humour which lightened the book and made it less dark than I was expecting while still containing some terrible moments. Will the group freeze to death, kill each other or have some other fate befall them? What on earth is behind the freak weather and are the newest members of the group exaggerating about what they have seen outside?
Written in the third person from a range of viewpoints we are able to find out about the secrets some of the refugees from the weather have. Harry is one of the main characters, a regular since tragedy hit his life. The others see him a bit of a drunken joke, not knowing about what has happened in his past. Local thug Damien lacks respect for the other regulars and has a hard man reputation but isn't all he seems. Nigel the trucker is an unknown quantity for the others, a man who keeps himself to himself, but probably for good reason. Some of the characters like duo Ben and Jerry start out light-hearted and confident but reveal their softer more thoughtful sides as the night goes on. Possibly the most interesting character to me was the Irish charmer who has made his first appearance in the pub on this of all nights and seems to have uncanny insight. I thought the development of the characters and their interwoven relationships was great, and a real strength. The different types of people and their contradictory views were pretty representative of the sort of people you can find on any given evening in locals across the land. I definitely found myself identifying with and rooting for some of the characters while being disgusted by others.
It's proved quite difficult to review this book without giving any spoilers, so suffice it to say that towards the end all is explained and I really liked the what and why. I also liked the very last chapter which acted as an epilogue, but again would hate to say more for fear of ruining it for anyone else.
I thought this was a very good book, only let down a little by a few typos and misplaced apostrophes, with both a clever plot and a number of engaging characters. Oh and as an added bonus there is a revolting short story at the end! I'd definitely look up Iain Rob Wright's other works.
The book is described as an apocalyptic horror, and while it starts in a way that provokes thoughts about climate change and doesn't appear to be setting up a horror story, as the evening goes on members of the group witness terrible things. Although some of the action takes place outside and in shops nearby most of the evening is covered from within the pub, in close quarters which feels quite claustrophobic and adds to the atmosphere. The tone starts as quite conversational and there are moments of humour which lightened the book and made it less dark than I was expecting while still containing some terrible moments. Will the group freeze to death, kill each other or have some other fate befall them? What on earth is behind the freak weather and are the newest members of the group exaggerating about what they have seen outside?
Written in the third person from a range of viewpoints we are able to find out about the secrets some of the refugees from the weather have. Harry is one of the main characters, a regular since tragedy hit his life. The others see him a bit of a drunken joke, not knowing about what has happened in his past. Local thug Damien lacks respect for the other regulars and has a hard man reputation but isn't all he seems. Nigel the trucker is an unknown quantity for the others, a man who keeps himself to himself, but probably for good reason. Some of the characters like duo Ben and Jerry start out light-hearted and confident but reveal their softer more thoughtful sides as the night goes on. Possibly the most interesting character to me was the Irish charmer who has made his first appearance in the pub on this of all nights and seems to have uncanny insight. I thought the development of the characters and their interwoven relationships was great, and a real strength. The different types of people and their contradictory views were pretty representative of the sort of people you can find on any given evening in locals across the land. I definitely found myself identifying with and rooting for some of the characters while being disgusted by others.
It's proved quite difficult to review this book without giving any spoilers, so suffice it to say that towards the end all is explained and I really liked the what and why. I also liked the very last chapter which acted as an epilogue, but again would hate to say more for fear of ruining it for anyone else.
I thought this was a very good book, only let down a little by a few typos and misplaced apostrophes, with both a clever plot and a number of engaging characters. Oh and as an added bonus there is a revolting short story at the end! I'd definitely look up Iain Rob Wright's other works.
October 27, 2022
I began Final Winter eagerly. I love the cover and the blurb drew me in. It started out slow, for me. I kept thinking, will I finish it. My mind wandered and I kept bringing myself back. I am sooo glad I did. What began as a two, or maybe even, one star read, turned into a solid three stars. I would love to give it more, but I didn’t get into the story until I was halfway through. I thought…this is a story of our humanity…how low can we go…and that’s okay. Then, the last quarter of the book SAVED it. Final Winter was definitely worth reading.
There’s also some great bonus content: seven short stories of Final Winter, each spotlighting a family during the apocalypse and the standalone short: The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins, which may be short, but, most assuredly, is not sweet.
I believe I have a couple more stories by Ian Rob Wright hanging around on my Kindle. I’ll be checking that out.
There’s also some great bonus content: seven short stories of Final Winter, each spotlighting a family during the apocalypse and the standalone short: The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins, which may be short, but, most assuredly, is not sweet.
I believe I have a couple more stories by Ian Rob Wright hanging around on my Kindle. I’ll be checking that out.
June 7, 2014
I bought this on amazon for three reasons:
1. It was short and I wasn't in the mood for a 1,000 page epic.
2. It was cheap. Cheap is always a good price.
3. I'm a sucker for apocalypse stories, especially ones that aren't the start of a 20 volume series.
3a. I like to give a few untried authors a shot every year.
The Final Winter or as I like to call it, The Final Winter Where Every Character Shares Every Thought They Have with the Reader starts out with some measure of promise. A small assortment of people are effectively trapped in an English pub as an apocalyptic snowstorm rages not only outside but all across the world. Shortly into the story all phone service goes down and the power flicks off, leaving the group of people completely isolated.
A few others from a nearby supermarket and video store make their way over and the rest of the short novel chronicles the group trying to survive the storm and each other because most of them are miserable wretches.
The ending is right up there with "it was all a dream" or "and it turns out they were Adam and Eve". It's hokey as all get-out.
Overall, this is a mediocre effort, hampered by a few things that feel very "new writer" to me:
1. Each scene is told from a particular character's point of view. This is fine. However, the author doesn't merely jump into each character's head, he snuggles comfortably in. Every thought and emotion is relayed in explicit (and often redundant) detail. There is no mystery at all behind anyone's motivations at any point. Everything is quite literally spelled out for the reader. This gives the story a strange flatness, leeching out nearly all of the inter-character drama.
2. The plot drives the characters. The author seems to have hatched the plot for the novel and then contorts the situations and characters to ensure that everything moves from Point A to Point B to Point C. There are absurd coincidences, characters behaving stupidly (often wondering to themselves why they are acting so stupidly but carrying on nonetheless), all in service to keep the plot moving forward. The characters feel less like people and more like chess pieces being moved about to get to checkmate. That's what the bad guy should have shouted at the end, really. "Checkmate!"
3. Without getting too much into spoilers, the depiction of good and evil flips between cartoonish and grimdark, but the tone shifts are awkward, as if the author couldn't make up his mind whether to play things straight or for laughs.
The opening where the characters are first introduced and the mystery of the storm is not yet revealed works reasonably well and I was interested in seeing what would happen. By the end I was rolling my eyes regularly and happier about the book being short and cheap.
A disappointment overall and one I can't recommend. If you're looking for an apocalyptic tale I'd suggest the nearly 40 year old Lucifer's Hammer before this.
1. It was short and I wasn't in the mood for a 1,000 page epic.
2. It was cheap. Cheap is always a good price.
3. I'm a sucker for apocalypse stories, especially ones that aren't the start of a 20 volume series.
3a. I like to give a few untried authors a shot every year.
The Final Winter or as I like to call it, The Final Winter Where Every Character Shares Every Thought They Have with the Reader starts out with some measure of promise. A small assortment of people are effectively trapped in an English pub as an apocalyptic snowstorm rages not only outside but all across the world. Shortly into the story all phone service goes down and the power flicks off, leaving the group of people completely isolated.
A few others from a nearby supermarket and video store make their way over and the rest of the short novel chronicles the group trying to survive the storm and each other because most of them are miserable wretches.
The ending is right up there with "it was all a dream" or "and it turns out they were Adam and Eve". It's hokey as all get-out.
Overall, this is a mediocre effort, hampered by a few things that feel very "new writer" to me:
1. Each scene is told from a particular character's point of view. This is fine. However, the author doesn't merely jump into each character's head, he snuggles comfortably in. Every thought and emotion is relayed in explicit (and often redundant) detail. There is no mystery at all behind anyone's motivations at any point. Everything is quite literally spelled out for the reader. This gives the story a strange flatness, leeching out nearly all of the inter-character drama.
2. The plot drives the characters. The author seems to have hatched the plot for the novel and then contorts the situations and characters to ensure that everything moves from Point A to Point B to Point C. There are absurd coincidences, characters behaving stupidly (often wondering to themselves why they are acting so stupidly but carrying on nonetheless), all in service to keep the plot moving forward. The characters feel less like people and more like chess pieces being moved about to get to checkmate. That's what the bad guy should have shouted at the end, really. "Checkmate!"
3. Without getting too much into spoilers, the depiction of good and evil flips between cartoonish and grimdark, but the tone shifts are awkward, as if the author couldn't make up his mind whether to play things straight or for laughs.
The opening where the characters are first introduced and the mystery of the storm is not yet revealed works reasonably well and I was interested in seeing what would happen. By the end I was rolling my eyes regularly and happier about the book being short and cheap.
A disappointment overall and one I can't recommend. If you're looking for an apocalyptic tale I'd suggest the nearly 40 year old Lucifer's Hammer before this.
January 1, 2013
First posted review of 2013!:)
Review of The Final Winter by Iain Rob Wright
5 stars
This has to be one of the scariest apocalyptic novels I have ever encountered—one of the most terrifying of any genre. Reading this on New Year’s Eve may not have been my smartest move; granted, I am not surrounded by incessant snowfall—but the sheer implacability of the terrors in this novel!!
I cannot get this story out of my mind: it’s not just “apocalyptic horror.” “The Final Winter” is a medieval Morality play come to life: such depths and convolutions that I could never have imagined any of its content. It begins with heavy snowfall—literally, everywhere—so of course I thought, “global warming, climate change.” But that was so not the answer. Then comes the terror—and more terror—and then the truth begins to expose itself. THEN, the climax after the denouement! Incredible! I’ve so enjoyed several of the horror stories of author Iain Rob Wright, but now this one—this is in a category all its own.
Review of The Final Winter by Iain Rob Wright
5 stars
This has to be one of the scariest apocalyptic novels I have ever encountered—one of the most terrifying of any genre. Reading this on New Year’s Eve may not have been my smartest move; granted, I am not surrounded by incessant snowfall—but the sheer implacability of the terrors in this novel!!
I cannot get this story out of my mind: it’s not just “apocalyptic horror.” “The Final Winter” is a medieval Morality play come to life: such depths and convolutions that I could never have imagined any of its content. It begins with heavy snowfall—literally, everywhere—so of course I thought, “global warming, climate change.” But that was so not the answer. Then comes the terror—and more terror—and then the truth begins to expose itself. THEN, the climax after the denouement! Incredible! I’ve so enjoyed several of the horror stories of author Iain Rob Wright, but now this one—this is in a category all its own.
September 9, 2017
Non male come storia, molto simile a "The Mist", il finale è anche piu logico del primo e mi ha piacevolmente soddisfatta....perché solo 3 stelle? perché la narrazione è stra piena di descrizioni,frasi,sottofrasi,penzoli e balle varie che fanno venire l'ortocaria anche ai muri...
February 2, 2020
The beginning was entertaining, but then the story begins to drag, the reveal is totally unexpected, and not in a good way. The anti-christian attitude is overpowering. It begins as a horror story and suddenly turns into a comedy. I actually thought of giving up. The ending is abrupt, everything wraps up too quickly and is cheesier than Gouda. Skip this, read his "A-Z of Horror" instead, it's great!
March 24, 2017
I LOVE this author!! So glad I have discovered him and I have been devouring all his books. In this one Harry has committed the final sin which God has been judging/keeping a tally of -- well keeping a tally of ALL humanity's sins and Harry's is the one that tips the scale. God brings a snowstorm that will be the end of the world. Harry and local townspeople gather in a pub to wait out the apocalypse (Shaun of the Dead anyone?? :0) ) In the snow are 'angels' that kill people and the humans in the pub are not much better! I cannot say what Harry does at the end for it will ruin the book but we do get interventions from both God AND the Devil before all is said and done. Reading this it sounds like an utterly surreal book but it feels very much grounded in reality and is quite good and full of tension and murders and the supernatural. Also, for those who, like me have read Wright's other book HOUSEMATES, all I can say is that this book features THAT Harry and THAT Damien!! Ultra cool- love when authors combine/intertwine their works! --Jen from Quebec :0)
September 6, 2011
First published in May of 2011, British author Iain Rob Wright’s debut novel ‘The Final Winter’ found itself falling snugly into the recently popularised post-apocalyptic revival that had seen a sudden resurgence of similarly ‘end of the world’ themed tales.
DLS Synopsis:
Ever since Harry Jobson’s wife and son had died at the wheels of a convicted drink driver, Harry’s life had been a constant and purposeful descent into misery and drunken despair. Night after night the unemployed thirty-one year old spends his life drowning his sorrows in alcohol at his local – The Trumpet. And tonight was no exception. The usual faces were in the pub with him, each drinking alone, passing the hours with just their pints for company. The only thing that was different from every other night was the weather. The snow was falling heavier than anyone could ever remember it having done. And not just where they were…but across the entire world.
When the power cuts out, the pub and the rest of the snow-covered street is left in complete darkness. The pub’s longstanding barmaid Steph is the first to jump into action – gathering together candles for some form of light. The sudden arrival of Lucas – a charismatic Irishman that strangely none of the locals had ever laid eyes on before, quickly brings the group together. Those taking shelter from the unrelenting blizzard outside are far from a solid knit of personalities. Old Graham – the local old drinker, Nigel the long-distance lorry driver and Damien the young drug dealing thug, together with Harry, Lucas and Steph make up the entirety of the group.
With the snow falling heavily and the temperature steadily dropping, drastic measures are certainly needed. And Lucas seems to be the man to bring them all together in this desperate time of need. But the snow and the dropping temperature suddenly becomes just one in a long line of life-threatening problems that face the group. Everything suddenly becomes a hell of a lot worse when the mutilated body of the Polish supermarket employee – Peter, comes crashing through the pub window. And carved into the flesh of his chest is the message “Send out the sinner”.
Suddenly this is hell on earth. Outside beastly hounds from hell are roaming the surreal white landscape, where visibility is near impossible. Others from nearby shops are seeking rescue, when the first of the savage attacks occur. There’s a hell of a lot more out there than just snow…
DLS Review:
Wright starts off the tale setting down a nicely localised post-apocalyptic scenario that encapsulates a very British setting, with a handful of well-developed characters bringing together a very character driven storyline. The tale itself stands firmly with its very British roots throughout, playing with the clashing personalities of the realistically portrayed characters from within this very small locale.
The novel unashamedly homes in on just this very small location within a much more expansive and grander apocalyptic premise. Drawing together a religiously themed premise from the likes of Stuart Vowell’s ‘Lucifer Wars’ (2005) or indeed John Prescott’s ‘Pray’ (2010), Wright zeros in on how one small group of individuals battle against all odds in order to hopefully survive the long perilous night. Very much in the similar vein as one of Ian Woodhead’s apocalyptic scenarios, such as with his tale ‘Shades Of Green’ (2010), the reader finds themselves watching a very close-knit reaction to these monumentally devastating events, somewhat diminishing the otherwise epic scale of the scenario.
Just when the reader begins to think that they have an understanding of where the tale is going, Wright throws in a whole new twist to the tale’s direction, nicely throwing the reader off-guard once again. As piece by piece the novel gradually (and I really mean gradually) begins to take form, Wright pumps up the pace with sporadic splatters of action, bringing the novel to a dramatic and compelling finale. This final showdown (nope – I won’t give away with whom) is slightly clumsy with its actual execution, but remains satisfying with its broad wrapping up of the tale.
The handful of additional subplots that constantly run alongside the main thrust of the tale, are what really make the novel what it is. Ok, so the ‘religious-apocalypse’ backdrop is by far and away the main thrust for the tale, but the Richard Laymon-esque gritty substories breathe a much needed energy into the otherwise struggling plot.
The novel reads very much like a debut, with the author’s writing style not really found. At times the pace does begin to show signs of sagging, with a touch too much empathise on the interaction between the characters rather than slinging down another impactful scene of action and horror. However, Wright has still achieved a hell of a lot with the novel, pulling together an enjoyable and quite light-hearted apocalyptic romp.
The publication also includes the following bonus short story:
The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins – 9 Pages
Already 90% of Europe has been affected by the disease popularly dubbed ‘The Peeling’. Like its named suggests, the symptoms that ultimately result in the infected person’s death, are a slow disintegration of the body. Flesh falls off piece by piece. Toe nails slip off, hands rot away and pus filled sores drop from all across the body. And one man sits there recording his and the entire world’s downfall. One man who wants just one answer. Who’s responsible?
Gloriously gory from the outset, this miniature end of the world scenario wallows in the splatterpunk sickness of the short tale, feasting on the first-person-perspective of the human deterioration offered by the writings from our narrator’s diary. Very much in the same grotesque vein as Phil Smith’s ‘The Incredible Melting Man’ (1978), Guy N Smith’s ‘The Festering’ (1989) or indeed David Cronenberg’s film ‘The Fly’ (1986), the short delights in the repulsive elements of the narrator’s collapsing body, until a final, almost by this time irrelevant, twist ending concludes the twisted little tale.
The book as a whole runs for a total of 262 pages.
DLS Synopsis:
Ever since Harry Jobson’s wife and son had died at the wheels of a convicted drink driver, Harry’s life had been a constant and purposeful descent into misery and drunken despair. Night after night the unemployed thirty-one year old spends his life drowning his sorrows in alcohol at his local – The Trumpet. And tonight was no exception. The usual faces were in the pub with him, each drinking alone, passing the hours with just their pints for company. The only thing that was different from every other night was the weather. The snow was falling heavier than anyone could ever remember it having done. And not just where they were…but across the entire world.
When the power cuts out, the pub and the rest of the snow-covered street is left in complete darkness. The pub’s longstanding barmaid Steph is the first to jump into action – gathering together candles for some form of light. The sudden arrival of Lucas – a charismatic Irishman that strangely none of the locals had ever laid eyes on before, quickly brings the group together. Those taking shelter from the unrelenting blizzard outside are far from a solid knit of personalities. Old Graham – the local old drinker, Nigel the long-distance lorry driver and Damien the young drug dealing thug, together with Harry, Lucas and Steph make up the entirety of the group.
With the snow falling heavily and the temperature steadily dropping, drastic measures are certainly needed. And Lucas seems to be the man to bring them all together in this desperate time of need. But the snow and the dropping temperature suddenly becomes just one in a long line of life-threatening problems that face the group. Everything suddenly becomes a hell of a lot worse when the mutilated body of the Polish supermarket employee – Peter, comes crashing through the pub window. And carved into the flesh of his chest is the message “Send out the sinner”.
Suddenly this is hell on earth. Outside beastly hounds from hell are roaming the surreal white landscape, where visibility is near impossible. Others from nearby shops are seeking rescue, when the first of the savage attacks occur. There’s a hell of a lot more out there than just snow…
DLS Review:
Wright starts off the tale setting down a nicely localised post-apocalyptic scenario that encapsulates a very British setting, with a handful of well-developed characters bringing together a very character driven storyline. The tale itself stands firmly with its very British roots throughout, playing with the clashing personalities of the realistically portrayed characters from within this very small locale.
The novel unashamedly homes in on just this very small location within a much more expansive and grander apocalyptic premise. Drawing together a religiously themed premise from the likes of Stuart Vowell’s ‘Lucifer Wars’ (2005) or indeed John Prescott’s ‘Pray’ (2010), Wright zeros in on how one small group of individuals battle against all odds in order to hopefully survive the long perilous night. Very much in the similar vein as one of Ian Woodhead’s apocalyptic scenarios, such as with his tale ‘Shades Of Green’ (2010), the reader finds themselves watching a very close-knit reaction to these monumentally devastating events, somewhat diminishing the otherwise epic scale of the scenario.
Just when the reader begins to think that they have an understanding of where the tale is going, Wright throws in a whole new twist to the tale’s direction, nicely throwing the reader off-guard once again. As piece by piece the novel gradually (and I really mean gradually) begins to take form, Wright pumps up the pace with sporadic splatters of action, bringing the novel to a dramatic and compelling finale. This final showdown (nope – I won’t give away with whom) is slightly clumsy with its actual execution, but remains satisfying with its broad wrapping up of the tale.
The handful of additional subplots that constantly run alongside the main thrust of the tale, are what really make the novel what it is. Ok, so the ‘religious-apocalypse’ backdrop is by far and away the main thrust for the tale, but the Richard Laymon-esque gritty substories breathe a much needed energy into the otherwise struggling plot.
The novel reads very much like a debut, with the author’s writing style not really found. At times the pace does begin to show signs of sagging, with a touch too much empathise on the interaction between the characters rather than slinging down another impactful scene of action and horror. However, Wright has still achieved a hell of a lot with the novel, pulling together an enjoyable and quite light-hearted apocalyptic romp.
The publication also includes the following bonus short story:
The Peeling of Samuel Lloyd Collins – 9 Pages
Already 90% of Europe has been affected by the disease popularly dubbed ‘The Peeling’. Like its named suggests, the symptoms that ultimately result in the infected person’s death, are a slow disintegration of the body. Flesh falls off piece by piece. Toe nails slip off, hands rot away and pus filled sores drop from all across the body. And one man sits there recording his and the entire world’s downfall. One man who wants just one answer. Who’s responsible?
Gloriously gory from the outset, this miniature end of the world scenario wallows in the splatterpunk sickness of the short tale, feasting on the first-person-perspective of the human deterioration offered by the writings from our narrator’s diary. Very much in the same grotesque vein as Phil Smith’s ‘The Incredible Melting Man’ (1978), Guy N Smith’s ‘The Festering’ (1989) or indeed David Cronenberg’s film ‘The Fly’ (1986), the short delights in the repulsive elements of the narrator’s collapsing body, until a final, almost by this time irrelevant, twist ending concludes the twisted little tale.
The book as a whole runs for a total of 262 pages.
January 14, 2016
This is my second book by Iain Rob Wright and I loved it!! The first one was a fun Zombie book but this one was darker and creepier.
The plot was quite scary without the added supernatural element. Snow has been falling all over the world and nobody knows why. Not many places are open in the freezing English countryside, apart from the local pub where some of the normal patrons gather. As the snow gets worse, they start to realise that all isn't as it seems. With strange things happening, they have to try and survive the end of the world.
That's just a basic summary of the plot because I don't want to spoil things but it goes much deeper than just that. There is a lot happening in the pub and the twists towards the end were amazing. It's a fast paced and intense plot but one you will not want to end. It captivated me from the start and I devoured the book.
The characters were amazingly written. There are quite a few but we get a great sense of who they are. Each one has a story to tell and you can't help but root for them. Harry is one of the MCs, he has been drowning his sorrows in The Trumpet since a drunk driver took his wife and son from him. He doesn't know what to make of the snow but knows something is wrong. He was one of my favourite characters because he was real. He isn't a likely hero, he is flawed but he does what needs to be done, no matter the cost.
Another character I liked was the mysterious Irish man that came into the pub. He was like the cam in the storm, though you just know that he knows more then he is letting on. While I'm talking about this character, I have to say that Chris Barnes nailed the Irish accent. Being Irish, I'm particular when it comes to people trying to do a decent Irish accent, often times they fail miserably, but not so here! Chris Barnes did it perfectly and clearly.
Anyway, this was such a great read. It's labeled as a post apocalyptic horror, but it's not gory. It's definitely creepy and quite scary but fit for anyone who doesn't like too much gore. I loved everything about this and highly recommend!!
Once again, Chris Barnes gave an amazing performance. The amount of accents he can do never fails to impress me, but with this book, he took it to a new level. So many different characters, yet he managed to give each their own voice. I never had a problem following who was talking, and as I said, his Irish accent was amazing too. He breathed life into this book and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. He is one narrator I can recommend.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affects my thoughts.*
The plot was quite scary without the added supernatural element. Snow has been falling all over the world and nobody knows why. Not many places are open in the freezing English countryside, apart from the local pub where some of the normal patrons gather. As the snow gets worse, they start to realise that all isn't as it seems. With strange things happening, they have to try and survive the end of the world.
That's just a basic summary of the plot because I don't want to spoil things but it goes much deeper than just that. There is a lot happening in the pub and the twists towards the end were amazing. It's a fast paced and intense plot but one you will not want to end. It captivated me from the start and I devoured the book.
The characters were amazingly written. There are quite a few but we get a great sense of who they are. Each one has a story to tell and you can't help but root for them. Harry is one of the MCs, he has been drowning his sorrows in The Trumpet since a drunk driver took his wife and son from him. He doesn't know what to make of the snow but knows something is wrong. He was one of my favourite characters because he was real. He isn't a likely hero, he is flawed but he does what needs to be done, no matter the cost.
Another character I liked was the mysterious Irish man that came into the pub. He was like the cam in the storm, though you just know that he knows more then he is letting on. While I'm talking about this character, I have to say that Chris Barnes nailed the Irish accent. Being Irish, I'm particular when it comes to people trying to do a decent Irish accent, often times they fail miserably, but not so here! Chris Barnes did it perfectly and clearly.
Anyway, this was such a great read. It's labeled as a post apocalyptic horror, but it's not gory. It's definitely creepy and quite scary but fit for anyone who doesn't like too much gore. I loved everything about this and highly recommend!!
Once again, Chris Barnes gave an amazing performance. The amount of accents he can do never fails to impress me, but with this book, he took it to a new level. So many different characters, yet he managed to give each their own voice. I never had a problem following who was talking, and as I said, his Irish accent was amazing too. He breathed life into this book and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. He is one narrator I can recommend.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affects my thoughts.*
November 20, 2015
If you liked Stephen King's "The Mist", then you will enjoy The Final Winter. I liked that the story took place in the UK and I loved all the winter descriptions. I must admit that I didn't see the cause of the eternal winter coming. I thought the ending stories were a fun addition to the book to give some of the characters in the book their own personal versions of what was going on around them. My absolute favorite was of course the last one in the book where "the peeling" was described. How utterly creepy!! Oh How I loved the gore in it though!
October 18, 2020
This one starts as you would expect. An unseasonal snowstorm causing white out conditions, reports of snowstorms in places where they shouldn't be, old codgers in the pub saying everything will be back to normal in a couple days and all the talk about global warming is over reaction, then the power goes out.
So far very similar to most stories about unusual snowstorms. The story takes a while to get to the Horror bits, but spends that time on character development which is interesting in itself. We get to know several small pockets of people in the same general area and how they respond to the nasty weather and attendant problems. Eventually the groups begin to mix.
The story is strong on character development. It also has a sort of 'whodunnit' mystery aspect to the plot that separates it from the usual monsters in the snow stories. There are some Biblical references, but also enough pure Horror elements to keep the reader guessing what might happen next.
It does seem to lack cohesion. Some of the Horror elements don't really work together and the reactions of the characters aren't entirely believable in many instances. Occasionally a new bit of information gets thrown in that doesn't feel all that likely either.
The basic concept, once revealed, was groan-worthy. However, by then I was invested in some of the characters and wanted to see how things turned out. Overall I enjoyed reading the story and as a bonus, there were a few short stories at the end showing people in different places around the world while the main story was happening so you get an alternate perspective of how things unfold.3.5 stars, rounded to 4 for GR.
So far very similar to most stories about unusual snowstorms. The story takes a while to get to the Horror bits, but spends that time on character development which is interesting in itself. We get to know several small pockets of people in the same general area and how they respond to the nasty weather and attendant problems. Eventually the groups begin to mix.
The story is strong on character development. It also has a sort of 'whodunnit' mystery aspect to the plot that separates it from the usual monsters in the snow stories. There are some Biblical references, but also enough pure Horror elements to keep the reader guessing what might happen next.
It does seem to lack cohesion. Some of the Horror elements don't really work together and the reactions of the characters aren't entirely believable in many instances. Occasionally a new bit of information gets thrown in that doesn't feel all that likely either.
The basic concept, once revealed, was groan-worthy. However, by then I was invested in some of the characters and wanted to see how things turned out. Overall I enjoyed reading the story and as a bonus, there were a few short stories at the end showing people in different places around the world while the main story was happening so you get an alternate perspective of how things unfold.3.5 stars, rounded to 4 for GR.
April 23, 2017
This could have been a good book and with a good editor, it still might be, but there are too many mistakes and characters who are not fully developed. At first, I couldn't put it down. There were some interesting individuals in the pub and other stores and intriguing story lines, but the promise of those characters kind of fizzled near the end.
The ending was also problematic. I think the trouble is that there are some archetypes in human consciousness and if a person is going to act outside those parameters, there needs to be a very skillful character development. I am thinking of Mephistopheles, Screwtape, Old Scratch and those created by Dante, Milton, and Goethe. I am probably putting it awkwardly, but it is hard to make this point without spoiling the book.
I would like to see other work by the author, because I see a very creative mind.
I also have to note that dropping the foul language and sexual innuendo would help the book a great deal. Many of the situations call for specific adjectives which would help the reader experience the character's thoughts better than the trite expletives which are repetitive and non specific.
The ending was also problematic. I think the trouble is that there are some archetypes in human consciousness and if a person is going to act outside those parameters, there needs to be a very skillful character development. I am thinking of Mephistopheles, Screwtape, Old Scratch and those created by Dante, Milton, and Goethe. I am probably putting it awkwardly, but it is hard to make this point without spoiling the book.
I would like to see other work by the author, because I see a very creative mind.
I also have to note that dropping the foul language and sexual innuendo would help the book a great deal. Many of the situations call for specific adjectives which would help the reader experience the character's thoughts better than the trite expletives which are repetitive and non specific.
May 4, 2013
For a short novel, it's taking me extraordinarily long to read this. The main reason is that the writing is extremely clunky, with overly-described thought processes, and phrases that are either cliched or don't make any sense. Lots of typos too. I am about halfway through and not much has happened in terms of plot. I don't know if I'll ever finish it.
Update: I finished it. It was painful. All that excruciatingly slow buildup... to a big, fat nothing.
Update: I finished it. It was painful. All that excruciatingly slow buildup... to a big, fat nothing.
September 15, 2011
If you can get past the extremely awful dialogue and the ever increasing amount of cheesiness, then you might enjoy this read. With some major editing I think it could be much better.
Freebie via Smashwords. The Final Winter via Smashwords
Freebie via Smashwords. The Final Winter via Smashwords
February 28, 2015
A bit different than I expected but it was a quick read and a somewhat charming story of redemption.
October 1, 2015
Really good book, liked the way the story takes you on unexpected trails, twists and turns.
Worth reading. I could not put it down.
Worth reading. I could not put it down.
May 22, 2019
It was written well. It wasn't filled with grammatical errors which annoys the hell out of me. It was ok but just didn't work for me. Lucas was the only character I really enjoyed and that wasn't enough for me to recommend the book.
January 20, 2024
Not very well written, the writing was rather clunky in places and a lot of grammatical errors, but the premise of the book was good, well paced and the ending, including the short stories, made up for it.
January 9, 2017
In my determination to read all of author J.A. Konrath's books, I stumbled upon another writer who collaborated with him on one of his novels, Holes in the Ground, the sequel to Konrath's Origin. For that novel, author Iain Rob Wright integrated a couple of his characters from his book The Final Winter, which is about a group of people trapped in a pub during an epic snow storm. Like in Stephen King's Storm of the Century, the snow storm proves to be deadlier than first believed, and the only way out is for the survivors to give up the person inside the pub who's the cause of it all.
I thought that the plot was very well done, and the characters were very well-developed. Wright did a remarkable job slowly rolling out the characters' backstory to keep readers guessing who was the person responsible for causing the apocalyptic storm. However, because of the novel's similarities to the Stephen King novel, I pretty much figured out any twists and turns Wright tried to offer up. Despite this, Wright's writing and humor made the story fun to read, and hard to put down. Aside from books from older writers, I don't think I've read too many contemporary mystery/horror novels set in Britain, so this was a nice departure for me. I think I learned more about pubs from this novel than any before, and it's always nice to have the information for future reference. :)
I enjoyed Wright's novel so much, that I'm considering checking out his other work. He writes in the popular multi-POV format, and uses this to his advantage when ratcheting up the tension in his story. The pace stayed steady throughout, and I never got bored, even when reading a POV of an unlikable character. If you like mystery/suspense with a little horror thrown in, You might want to check out Iain Rob Wright. He provides just enough horror to keep you on the edge of your seat, but won't gross you out.This review was originally posted on I Was Angelized_1st
I thought that the plot was very well done, and the characters were very well-developed. Wright did a remarkable job slowly rolling out the characters' backstory to keep readers guessing who was the person responsible for causing the apocalyptic storm. However, because of the novel's similarities to the Stephen King novel, I pretty much figured out any twists and turns Wright tried to offer up. Despite this, Wright's writing and humor made the story fun to read, and hard to put down. Aside from books from older writers, I don't think I've read too many contemporary mystery/horror novels set in Britain, so this was a nice departure for me. I think I learned more about pubs from this novel than any before, and it's always nice to have the information for future reference. :)
I enjoyed Wright's novel so much, that I'm considering checking out his other work. He writes in the popular multi-POV format, and uses this to his advantage when ratcheting up the tension in his story. The pace stayed steady throughout, and I never got bored, even when reading a POV of an unlikable character. If you like mystery/suspense with a little horror thrown in, You might want to check out Iain Rob Wright. He provides just enough horror to keep you on the edge of your seat, but won't gross you out.This review was originally posted on I Was Angelized_1st
April 14, 2012
I really enjoyed The Final Winter, it took a few unexpected turns and ended in a way I could not have conceived.
The Trumpet is a sorry looking pub in the middle of a run down council estate in the English Midlands, surrounded by a few empty shops, a supermarket and a video store. One fateful day it starts snowing heavily not just in England but all over the world and people begin to fear the worst as electricity supplies stop and all TV and radio transmissions fade. Stranded in the pub along with the bar lady, Steph are Harry a drunk with a tragic story to tell, Old Graham a veteran of the Falklands war who lives upstairs, Damien the estates resident drug dealer and general thug, Nigel a long distance lorry driver and Lucas. Across the road in the Supermarket, manger Kath is stranded with two of her staff, Jess and "Polish" Peter. Finnally in his Dad's video store are Jerry and his mate Ben. As the snow continues to fall and the temperature drops like a stone, a menacing hooded giant appears in the snow accompanied by huge hounds....what follows is a living nightmare for the rag tag cast of characters and the end of the world as we know it..... A very good read, a very different concept from a lot of Apocalyptic books out there.
The Trumpet is a sorry looking pub in the middle of a run down council estate in the English Midlands, surrounded by a few empty shops, a supermarket and a video store. One fateful day it starts snowing heavily not just in England but all over the world and people begin to fear the worst as electricity supplies stop and all TV and radio transmissions fade. Stranded in the pub along with the bar lady, Steph are Harry a drunk with a tragic story to tell, Old Graham a veteran of the Falklands war who lives upstairs, Damien the estates resident drug dealer and general thug, Nigel a long distance lorry driver and Lucas. Across the road in the Supermarket, manger Kath is stranded with two of her staff, Jess and "Polish" Peter. Finnally in his Dad's video store are Jerry and his mate Ben. As the snow continues to fall and the temperature drops like a stone, a menacing hooded giant appears in the snow accompanied by huge hounds....what follows is a living nightmare for the rag tag cast of characters and the end of the world as we know it..... A very good read, a very different concept from a lot of Apocalyptic books out there.
September 14, 2018
Let me start out by saying my reasons for not liking this book seem to be different than most of the 1 star reviews and I am perfectly okay with that [though I agree with a lot of their points so there is that].
1] Objectionable language- this doesn't bother a lot of folks, maybe even most folks but there is a fairly large group of readers who prefer NOT to wade through a cesspool just because there is something interesting on the other side. The writer starts out with a few potty mouth characters but before long the "F" bombs begin and eventually full fledged blasphemy [more on that in a moment].
2] Shaky character & location changes. Just poorly done creating slight confusion at times.
3] Full on anti-Bible, anti-Christian philosophy. One of the main characters, a supposed good guy story-wise is a fallen angel. His view of God is less than stellar as well as being biblically incorrect in almost every detail. In fact, just about everything in the book that is supposed to be Biblical is that in name only. One reviewer complained because the author injected the Bible in the story but he needn't have worried as it is NOT Bible or Christian in any good way.
4] read the other 1 star reviews for more
1] Objectionable language- this doesn't bother a lot of folks, maybe even most folks but there is a fairly large group of readers who prefer NOT to wade through a cesspool just because there is something interesting on the other side. The writer starts out with a few potty mouth characters but before long the "F" bombs begin and eventually full fledged blasphemy [more on that in a moment].
2] Shaky character & location changes. Just poorly done creating slight confusion at times.
3] Full on anti-Bible, anti-Christian philosophy. One of the main characters, a supposed good guy story-wise is a fallen angel. His view of God is less than stellar as well as being biblically incorrect in almost every detail. In fact, just about everything in the book that is supposed to be Biblical is that in name only. One reviewer complained because the author injected the Bible in the story but he needn't have worried as it is NOT Bible or Christian in any good way.
4] read the other 1 star reviews for more
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2014
The Final Winter
Friends/reduced price or free
Began June 26, Completed June 28, 2014
WOW!! An excellent study of the power of the milk of human kindness and a few other things. The story is a well written creative tale with believable characters you will love, hate and and in some cases learn to love again. (If by chance you are a Biblical scholar, you will find a few liberties taken.) I did find a few words missing here and there, perhaps even the wrong name used on occasion. But the overall action, character development, story and creativity is what makes this book one that was difficult for me to set aside and do my every day duties.
One interesting effect this book had on me. It is obviously about a cold, snowy, windy and deadly winter. I read the book during a bit of a heat wave...90 degree temps, 70 degree dew point, thunder storms throughout the day...get the idea? It's been HOT here. Yet while reading this book, I kept feeling cold and thinking it was snowing outside. Weird, eh? That's what good writing does.
For all these reasons I give this book a solid 5 stars.
Recommended
Friends/reduced price or free
Began June 26, Completed June 28, 2014
WOW!! An excellent study of the power of the milk of human kindness and a few other things. The story is a well written creative tale with believable characters you will love, hate and and in some cases learn to love again. (If by chance you are a Biblical scholar, you will find a few liberties taken.) I did find a few words missing here and there, perhaps even the wrong name used on occasion. But the overall action, character development, story and creativity is what makes this book one that was difficult for me to set aside and do my every day duties.
One interesting effect this book had on me. It is obviously about a cold, snowy, windy and deadly winter. I read the book during a bit of a heat wave...90 degree temps, 70 degree dew point, thunder storms throughout the day...get the idea? It's been HOT here. Yet while reading this book, I kept feeling cold and thinking it was snowing outside. Weird, eh? That's what good writing does.
For all these reasons I give this book a solid 5 stars.
Recommended
July 24, 2016
Apocalypse (S)Now. Cinematically if Supernatural tv show and Legion had a baby or a baby book. Though my main motivation for this selection was to somehow psychologically counteract the heatwave, from time to time it's fun to check out a new horror author, especially when it turns out to actually be worth the time. This was. Wright can write, pun and all, and the book was entertaining, well paced, with likeable characters, a few surprises and even a moral. Boy, was there a moral, incongruously with the rest of the story really, like all of a sudden there is a Christmas special sort of ending. The book might have needed an editor, some typos, grammar and logistics, nothing major enough to distract from the plot. Not literature, doesn't try to be, but perfectly good for what it was, a fun apocalyptic tale set in a snowed in bar appropriately named The Trumpet. The edition also includes a bunch of fun short stories tangentially connected to the main one. Fun reading. Great introduction to a new author. Recommended for genre fans.
March 28, 2018
I am in two minds about this book. I absolutely loved the first half of it, it had a lot of promise and I was getting right into it. I mean, it is snowing heavily all around the world, the pub where some locals take refuge is completely isolated, their mobiles don't work etc. I was looking forward to what was going to happen next.
I enjoyed the characterisations and there were plenty of shocks and surprises to keep me entertained without any issues. But then I kind of went "what the???" at a certain point....and the author started to lose my attention. I am not entirely sure that some of the paragraphs at the end were all that necessary either, although I understand why he put them there.
All in all, it was a good book, just not a great book. It had potential though and with a bit of fine-tuning this could be a corker of a book.
Looking forward to reading some more of this author's work.
3.5 stars from me :)
I enjoyed the characterisations and there were plenty of shocks and surprises to keep me entertained without any issues. But then I kind of went "what the???" at a certain point....and the author started to lose my attention. I am not entirely sure that some of the paragraphs at the end were all that necessary either, although I understand why he put them there.
All in all, it was a good book, just not a great book. It had potential though and with a bit of fine-tuning this could be a corker of a book.
Looking forward to reading some more of this author's work.
3.5 stars from me :)
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