Review: Winter's Shadow by M. J. Hearle

Winter's Shadow, M. J. Hearle

Release date: 6th June 2011 (AUS)

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance, 

Pages: 424

Series: WInter's Shadow

1. Winter's Shadow

2. Winter's Light (2012)

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger.

Himself.

This is an Aussie YA book, and while I didn't particularly like the cliched plot line, I think Hearle did a good job with it. It was also really awesome to see Aussie spelling. I am getting so sick of every book having damn American spelling. It just gets on my nerves. How come books written in England or Australia have all the spelling and stuff Ameircanised when they get published in the States, but we don't have the same treatment? (Pet peeve of mine! -.-')

So Winter is taking photographs at an old, abandoned church that is about to fall down. There was a fire which basically destroyed it, and no one's visited it in about ten years. Can I ask why, why, why there is an obsession with old churches and cemeteries? It's just creepy and too cliche for me!

Anyways, Winter sees this beautiful man at a headstone and takes his picture... and then the church falls down and he saves her. As we read, we find out from Blake's perspective that he's drawn to Winter and has to keep her safe from something. So he sends out his minions-- cats!-- to watch her. It's the tried and failed Twilight plot: the hot, broody, tortured-soul hero is drawn to the innocent, pure, 'unique' heroine because of his nature. Edward because of Bella's blood, Blake because Winter has this light thing going on as well as something else that we find out about later in the novel.

Aside from the overused plot line, I have to say that the paranormal part of it is very original. I've never read anything like it before, and it's super creepy. I wouldn't want to be reading this book late at night! So the paranormal stuff is new and shiny and very interesting-- I'll give you that, Mr Hearle.

I found Blake and Winter to be the typical doomed love couple. We all knew something bad would happen to Winter and then Blake would rush in to save her at risk to himself. And then... well, you guys have to read to find out what happens, huh?

I love to read a novel where I fall in love with the hero. This was not the case with Blake. I just didn't like him. He seemed dodgy. He also had the whole 'I'm a monsteeeer!~~' thing going on that hit too close to Edward Cullen. Just say no, girlies.

The character who I liked most was Lucy, Winter's sister. She gives up her uni education to come home and look after Winter when their parents die. It is such a selfless thing for Lucy to do, as they do have an aunt and uncle who can take Winter in. Instead of living the high life at uni, Lucy now looks after Winter and has a job at a pharmacy. She's overprotective of Winter and reminds me of my mum. I hope to read more about Lucy in the sequel!

My verdict: While an entertaining read, this book has an eerie connection with Twilight as well as countless other books which have the same overused plot line. Beware of cliches! Author M. J. Hearle did a good job for a first novel, but I hope to see something better in the sequel.